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ahr  3. 1.  Htll  ICtbrani 


North  (Taralina  ^tate  Utitnprfltlii 

r:A756i 

D80 
1847 


AKCH.  LIB 


NA7561 
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DESIGN  I. 

A    SUBURBAN    COTTAQE 


Fig.  3. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES; 

OR, 

A    SERIES    OF    DESIGNS 

FOR 

RURAL  COTTAGES  AND  COTTAGE  YILLA8 

AND   THEIR 

GARDENS  AND  GROUNDS. 


ADAPTED   TO 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


BY  A.  J.   DOWNING, 

AUTHOR  OF  A  TREATISE  ON  LANDSCAPE  GARDKNING,  ETC. 


'■  I  long  for  the  preservation  of  those  pure,  simple,  holy  tastes,  which  have  led  our  countrymen, 
in  all  ages,  to  delight  in  the  pleasant  fields,  in  the  pleasant  country  houses,  in  the  profound  pe.ace 
of  noble  woods  so  favorable  to  high  and  solemn  musings,  and  in  all  those  healthful  and  animal 
ing  sports  and  pursuits  that  belong  to  such  a  life." — Howitt. 


PART    I. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  NUMEROUS  ENGRAVINGS. 


SEjjfrlJ  ISXiftfon. 


NEW    YORK    AND    LONDON: 

WILEY    AND     PUTNAIM. 
1847. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1842,  by 

A .    J .    d;o  W  N  I  N  G  , 

In  the  Clerk's  nllice  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


K.   CRA'OHICAD.    PKINTER, 
Hi   FULTON    STREKT. 


W5 


WITH    SINCERE    KEGARP, 
TO 

HOBEKT     DONALDSON,     ESQ 

OK    BLITIIKVVOOD,    ON    THE    HUDSON, 

Arbiter  elegantiarum. 


PREFACE, 


A  HEARTY  desire  to  contribute  something  to  the  improvement 
of  the  domestic  architecture  and  the  rural  taste  of  our  country, 
has  been  the  motive  which  has  influenced  me  in  preparing  this 
little  volume.  With  us,  almost  every  man  either  builds,  or 
looks  forward  to  building,  a  home  for  himself,  at  some  period  of 
his  life  ;  it  may  be  only  a  log  hut,  or  a  most  rustic  cottage,  but 
perhaps  also,  a  villa,  or  a  mansion.  As  yet,  however,  our 
houses  are  mostly  either  of  the  plainest  and  most  meagre  de- 
scription, or,  if  of  a  more  ambitious,  they  are  frequently  of  a 
more  objectionable  character — shingle  palaces,  of  very  ques- 
tionable convenience,  and  not  in  the  least  adapted,  by  their 
domestic  and  rural  beauty,  to  harmonize  with  our  lovely  natural 
landscapes. 

Now  I  am  desirous  that  every  one  who  lives  in  the  country, 
and  in  a  country-house,  should  be  in  some  degree  conversant 
with  domestic  architecture,  not  only  because  it  will  be  likely  to 
improve  the  comfort  of  his  own  house,  and  hence  all  the  houses 
in  the  country,  but  that  it  will  enlarge  his  mind,  and  give  him 
new  sources  of  enjoyment. 

It  is  not  my  especial  object  at  this  moment,  to  dwell  upon  the 
superior  convenience  which  may  be  realized  in  our  houses,  by 
a  more  familiar  acquaintance  with  architecture.  The  advan- 
tages of  an  ingeniously  arranged  and  nicely  adapted  plan,  over 
one  carelessly  and  ill-contrived,  are  so  obvious  to  every  one, 
that  they  are  self-evident.  This  is  the  ground- work  of  domes- 
tic architecture,  the  great  importance  of  which  is  recognised 
by  all  mankind,  and  some  ingenuity  and  familiarity  with  practi- 
cal details  are  only  necessary  to  give  us  compact,  convenient, 


VI  PREFACE. 

and  comfortable  houses,  with  the  same  means  and  in  the  same 
space  as  the  most  awkward  and  unpleasing  forms. 

But  I  am  still  more  anxious  to  inspire  in  the  minds  of  my 
readers  and  countrymen  hveher  perceptions  of  the  beautiful, 
in  everything  that  relates  to  our  houses  and  grounds.  I  wish  to 
awaken  a  quicker  sense  of  the  grace,  the  elegance,  or  the  pictu- 
rcsqueness  of  fine  forms  that  are  capable  of  being  produced  in 
these,  by  Rural  Architecture  and  Landscape  Gardening — a 
sense  which  will  not  only  refine  and  elevate  the  mind,  but  open 
to  it  new  and  infinite  resources  of  delight.  There  are  perhaps 
a  few  upon  whose  souls  nearly  all  emanations  of  beauty  fall  im- 
pressionless  ;  but  there  are  also  many  who  see  the  Beautiful,  in 
nature  and  art,  only  feebly  and  dimly,  either  from  the  want  of 
proper  media  through  which  to  view  her,  or  a  little  direction  as 
to  where  she  is  to  be  found.  How  many,  too,  are  there,  who 
even  discover  the  Beautiful,  in  a  picture,  or  a  statue,  who  yet 
fail  to  admire  her,  rounding  with  lines  of  grace,  and  touching 
with  shades  of  harmony  all  common  nature,  and  pervading 
silently  all  material  forms  !  "  ]Men,"  says  Goethe,  "  are  so  in- 
clined to  content  themselves  with  what  is  commonest,  so  easily 
do  the  spirit  and  the  sense  grow  dead  to  the  impression  of  the 
Beautiful  and  the  Perfect,  that  every  person  should  strive  to 
nourish  in  his  mind  the  faculty  of  feeling  these  things,  by  eveiy- 
thing  in  his  power,  for  no  man  can  bear  to  be  wholly  deprived 
of  such  enjoyment ;  it  is  only  because  they  are  not  used  to 
taste  of  what  is  excellent,  that  the  generality  of  people  take 
delight  in  silly  and  insipid  things,  provided  they  be  new.  For 
this  reason,  every  day  one  ought  to  see  a  fine  picture,  read  a 
good  poem,  hear  a  little  song,  and  if  it  were  possible,  to  speak  a 
few  reasonable  words." 

It  is  in  this  regard,  that  I  Avish  to  inspire  all  persons  with  a 
love  of  beautiful  forms,  and  a  desire  to  assemble  them  around 
their  daily  walks  of  life.  I  wish  them  to  appreciate  how  supe- 
rior is  the  charm  of  that  home  where  we  discover  the  tasteful 
cottage  or  villa,  and  the  well  designed  and  neatly  kept  garden 
or  grounds,  full  of  beauty  and  harmony, — not  the  less  beautiful 
and  harmonious,  because  simple  and  limited  ;  and  to  become 
aware  that  these  superior  forms,  and  the  higher  and  more  re- 
fined enjoyment  derived  from  them,  may  be  had  at  the  same 


PREFACE.  Vll 

cost  and  with  the  same  labor  as  a  clumsy  dwelling,  and  its  un- 
couth and  ill  designed  accessories. 

More  than  all,  I  desire  to  see  these  sentiments  cherished  for 
their  pure  moral  tendency.  "All  beauty  is  an  outward 
expression  of  inward  good,"  and  so  closely  are  the  Beautiful  and 
the  True  allied,  that  we  shall  find,  if  we  become  sincere  lovers 
of  the  grace,  the  harmony,  and  the  loveliness  with  M'hicli  rural 
homes  and  rural  life  are  capable  of  being  invested,  that  w-e  are 
silently  opening  our  hearts  to  an  influence  which  is  higher  and 
deeper  than  the  mere  symbol;  and  that  if  we  thus  worship  in 
the  true  spirit,  we  shall  attain  a  nearer  view  of  the  Great 
Master,  whose  words,  in  all  his  material  universe,  are  written 
in  lines  of  Beauty. 

And  how  much  happiness,  how  much  pure  pleasure,  that 
streno-thens  and  invis-orates  our  best  and  holiest  affections,  is 
there  not  experienced,  in  bestowing  upon  our  homes  something 
of  grace  and  loveliness — in  making  the  place  dearest  to  our 
hearts  a  sunny  spot,  Mdiere  the  social  sympathies  take  shelter 
securely  under  the  shadowy  eaves,  or  grow  and  entwine  trust- 
fully with  the  tall  trees  or  wreathed  vines  that  cluster  around, 
as  if  striving  to  shut  out  whatever  of  bitterness  or  strife  may  be 
found  in  the  open  highways  of  the  world.  What  an  unfailing 
barrier  against  vice,  immorality,  and  bad  habits,  are  those  tastes 
which  lead  us  to  embellish  a  home,  to  which  at  all  times  and  in 
all  places  we  turn  with  delight,  as  being  the  object  and  the 
scene  of  our  fondest  cares,  labors,  and  enjoyments  ;  whose  hum- 
ble roof,  whose  shady  porch,  M'hose  verdant  lawn  and  smiling 
flowers,  all  breathe  forth  to  us,  in  true,  earnest  tones,  a  domestic 
feeling,  that  at  once  purifies  the  heart,  and  binds  us  more  close- 
ly to  our  fellow  beings. 

In  this  volume,  the  first  yet  published  in  this  country  devoted 
to  Rural  Architecture,  I  am  conscious  of  offering  but  a  slight 
and  imperfect  contribution  to  this  important  subject,  which  I 
trust  will  be  the  precursor  of  more  varied  and  complete  works 
from  others,  adapted  to  our  peculiar  wants  and  climate.  The 
very  great  interest  now  beginning  to  manifest  itself  in  rural 
improvements  of  every  kind,  leads  us  to  believe  and  to  hope, 
that  at  no  very  distant  day  our  country  residences  may  rival 
the  "cottage  homes  of  England,"  so  universally  and  so  justly 
admired. 


via  PREFACE. 

The  relation  between  a  country-house  and  its  "  surround- 
ings," has  led  me  to  consider,  under  the  term  Residences,  both 
the  architectural  and  the  gardening  designs.  To  constitute  an 
agreeable  whole,  these  should  indeed  iiave  a  harmonious  cor- 
respondence, one  with  the  other ;  and  although  most  of  the 
following  designs  have  not  actually  been  carried  into  execution, 
yet  it  is  believed  that  ihey  will,  either  entirely  or  in  part,  be 
found  adapted  to  many  cases  of  every  day  occurrence,  or  at 
least  furnish  hints  for  variations  suitable  for  iieculiar  circum- 
stances and  situations. 

My  acknowledgments  are  due  to  J.  Notman,  Esq.,  Architect, 
of  Philadeli)hia,  for  the  architectural  portion  of  Design  IX.  ; 
and  to  Alexander  J.  Davis.,  Esq.,  Architect,  of  New  York,  for 
that  of  Design  X.,  and  for  a  revision  of  some  of  the  architectural 
drawings  and  details. 

A.  J.  D. 

Highland  Gardens,  ) 

Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  June,  1S4?.   ) 


CONTENTS. 


ARCHITECTURAL  SUGGESTIONS. 

Leading  principles  of  domestic  architecture,  and  their  importance,  p.  9. 
The  principle  of  Utility  or  Fitness,  p.  2.  Value  of  a  convenient  arrangement, 
p.  2.  Different  wants  in  a  cottage,  p.  4.  Labor-saving  fixtures,  p.  5.  The 
mode  of  construction,  and  materials  most  suitable,  p.  S.  Fitness  in  furniture, 
p.  11.  The  principle  of  Propriety,  or  Expression  of  Purpose,  p.  11.  Features 
most  characteristic  of  this  expression,  p.  12.  The  color  of  the  exterior  of  cot- 
tages, p.  14.  Architecture  as  an  art  of  taste  and  imagination,  p.  17.  Beauty  of 
form.  The  principle  of  Unity,  p.  IS.  Of  Uniformity  and  Symmetry,  p.  19.  Of 
Harmony  and  Variety,  p.  21.  Different  styles  in  architecture,  p.  21.  Relation 
of  domestic  architecture,  p.  22.  The  most  suitable  styles  for  this  country,  p.  24, 
The  sentiment  of  architecture,  p.  25. 


DESIGN    I. 

A    StTBURBAX    COTTAGE. 

Description  of  the  plan  of  the  house,  and  its  internal  arrangements,  p.  27. 
Remarks  on  its  external  effect,  p.  30.  Details  of  construction,  p.  31.  Chimneys 
should  be  placed  in  the  inner  walls,  p.  32.  Estimate,  p.  32.  Laying  out  the 
garden,  p.  33.  List  of  creepers  for  a  trellis,  p.  34.  Choice  fruits  for  the 
kitchen  garden,  p.  35.  Training  them  to  a  trellis,  p.  36.  The  ornamental  por- 
tion, p.  37.  Sweet-scented  shrubs  to  be  planted  near  the  windows,  p.  3S,  Bor- 
der flowers,  p.  40.     Care  necessary  to  keep  tl>e  whole  in  order,  p.  41. 

DESIGN    II 

A    COTT.VGE    IN"    tHE    ENGLISH,    OR    RURAL   GOTHIC    STYLE. 

Object  in  view  in  arranging  the  interior,  p.  42.  Explanation  of  the  plans,  p. 
43.  Beauty  of  this  style  of  cottage,  p.  45.  Introduction  of  the  veranda,  p.  40. 
The  chimney-tops,  p.  46.  Construction  and  details,  p.  46.  Estimate,  p.  48. 
Laying  out  the  garden,  p.  49.  Trees  to  be  introduced  ;  disposing  the  kitchen 
garden,  p.  51. 


X  CONTENTS. 

DESIGN    III. 

A    COTTAGE    IN    THE    POINTED,    OR    TUDOR    STYLE. 

The  situation,  p.  53.  Size  of  the  cottage  suited  to  the  generality  of  wants  in 
this  country,  p.  54.  Arrangement  of  the  principal  floor,  p.  54.  Of  the  second 
floor,  p.  5S.  Of  the  basement,  p.  59.  Degree  of  decoration  to  be  employed. 
The  proper  materials,  p.  60.  Introduction  of  shutters,  p.  62.  Finish  of  the  in- 
terior, p.  G2.  Details  of  the  exterior,  p.  63.  The  dumb  waiter  described,  p.  63. 
Estimate,  p.  66.  Arrangement  of  tlie  grounds,  p.  66.  Sunk  fence,  or  ha-ha,  p, 
69.  Trees  most  in  keeping  with  the  place,  p.  70.  Preparation  of  the  soil  for 
planting  trees,  p.  71.  Arrangement  of  trees  in  the  natural  style  of  landscape 
gardening,  and  what  constitutes  the  art,  p.  72.  Flower  beds,  p.  73.  List  of  the 
finest  hardy  ornamental  trees  of  foreign  and  native  growth,  suitable  for  planting 
in  groups  and  masses,  p. 74.  List  of  42  choice  fruit  trees,  for  the  orchard  of  this 
design,  p.  80.   . 

DESIGN    IV. 

AN    ORNAMENTAL    FARM-HOUSE. 

Aim  in  this  design,  p.  SI.  Reasons  why  a  farmer's  house  should  be  tasteful, 
p.  82.  Description  of  the  first  floor  plan,  p.  S3.  Of  the  second  floor,  p.  84. 
Why  the  Rural  Gothic  style  is  adopted,  p.  84.  The  material  considered,  p.  85. 
Details  of  construction  and  the  estimate,  p.  86.  The  Ferme  Orn^e,  or  orna- 
mental portion  of  the  farm,  p.  86.  Trees  to  be  employed  for  ornament,  p.  89. 
The  introduction  of  hedges,  and  the  best  plants  for  this  purpose,  p.  90.  Render- 
ing fences  ornamental  by  creepers,  p.  90.  Harmonizing  the  adjacent  portions  of 
the  farm  ;  list  of  apples  for  the  oi-chard,  p.  91. 


DESIGN    V, 

A   COTTAGE    VILLA    IN    THE    BRACKETTED    MODfi. 

Bold  character  of  this  mode  of  building:  Its  adaptation  to  this  country  and  to 
the  south,  p.  92.  The  plan  of  the  principal  floor,  p.  93.  Superior  efiect  of  one 
large  apartment  for  the  drawing-room,  p.  94.  Tlie  second  floor,  and  the  base- 
ment arrangements,  p.  95.  Variation  of  this  design  as  constructed  in  Wood,  p. 
96.  Details;  the  chimney  and  porch,  p.  98.  The  brackets  and  siding,  p.  99. 
Construction  of  the  water-closet,  p.  100.  Estimate,  p.  lOl.  Laying  out  the 
ground,  p.  102.  The  ornamental  portions,  the  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens,  p. 
101.  Hints  for  the  detached  green-house,  p.  104.  Treatment  of  tlie  hill  in  the 
rear,  p.  105.  Preparation  and  treatment  necessary  to  produce  a  fine  lawn,  p. 
105.  The  flower-beds  cut  in  the  turf,  and  reasons  why  this  is  a  superior  me- 
thod of  arranging  them,  p.  107.  List  of  beautiful  verbenas  and  ever-blooming 
Roses,  for  these  beds,  p.  107.  Treatment  of  the  long  flower  borders,  p.  109. 
List  of  perennial  border  flowers,  arranged  according  to  their  height,  and  period 
of  blooming,  p.  110. 


CONTENTS.  XI 


DESIGN    VI. 

AN    IRREGULAR    VILLA    IN    THE    ITALIAN    STYLE,    BRACKETTED. 

Beauty  of  irregularity  in  buildings,  and  reasons  why  an  irregular  design  will  be 
disliked  by  some,  and  greatly  preferred  by  others,  p.  117.  Elegant  domestic 
features  of  the  Italian  style,  p.  118.  The  accommodation  of  the  principal  floor 
of  this  design,  p.  118.  Of  the  chamber  floor,  p.  119.  Trees  in  keeping  with  the 
style,  p.  120.  Construction,  p.  120.  Estimate,  p.  121.  Laying  out  the 
grounds,  p.  121.  Natural  character  of  the  situation,  and  the  way  in  which  it 
should  be  treated,  p.  122.  Advantages  of  walks  made  in  natural  woods,  p.  123. 
The  importance  of  studying  the  natural  expression  of  the  place,  and  of  making 
our  improvements  harmonize  with  it,  p.  124.  The  orchard  and  fruit  garden,  p. 
125.  List  of  the  finest  varieties  of  fruit,  p  .126.  Hints  for  their  cultivation,  and 
for  securing  them  against  insects,  p.  129. 

DESIGN    VII. 

AN    IRREGULAR    COTTAGE    IN    THE    OLD    ENGLISH    STYLE. 

Character  of  the  old  English  cottage,  and  reasons  why  it  should  only  be  built 
in  appropriate  situations,  p.  131.  Domestic  expression,  the  characteristic  of 
this  style,  p.  132.  Examination  of  the  interior,  p.  132.  Fitting  up  and  furnish- 
ing, p.  133.  Plan  of  the  chamber  story,  p.  134.  Construction  and  details,  p. 
136.  Care  necessary  in  executing  a  design  of  this  kind,  p.  137.  Estimate,  p. 
138.  Laying  out  the  grounds,  p.  138.  Mode  of  thinning  out  a  wooded  surface, 
p.  140.  Management  of  the  walks,  p  141.  An  irregular  flower  garden,  p.  141. 
A  cottage  in  the  same  style,  suitable  as  a  gate  lodge  to  this  residence,  or  for  a 
small  family,  p.  143.     Beauty  of  vines  and  climbing  plants  on  cottages,  p.  144. 

DESIGN    VIII. 

A    VILLA    IN    THE    ITALIAN    STYLE. 

Grecian  and  Italian  architecture  compared  ;  characteristic  quality  of  the  lat- 
ter, p.  14-5.  Situation  suitable  for  this  villa.  The  terrace ;  its  beauty  and 
utility :  union  between  the  house  and  grounds,  p.  146  ;  exterior  features,  p. 
147  ;  of  the  second  floor,  p.  14S.  Comparative  cost,  and  the  facility  of  making 
additions  to  buildings  in  the  Italian  style,  p.  149.  Construction  and  details,  p. 
1.50.  Estimate,  p.  151.  Arrangement  of  the  grounds,  p.  151.  The  architectu- 
ral flower  garden  described,  p.  1.52.  Elegant  effect  of  vases,  etc.,  in  connexion 
with  garden  scenery,  p.  154.  Pedestals  for  vases,  p.  155.  Details  of  the  garden  ; 
construction  and  supply  of  the  fountain,  p.  156. 

DESIGN    IX. 

A    COTTAGE    IN    THE    ITALIAN,    OR    TUSCAN    STYLE. 

Description  of  this  cottage  ;  the  principal  floor,  p.  15S.     The  second  floor,  and 


XU  CONTENTS. 


basement  accommodation,  p.  159.  Arrangement  of  the  ground,  with  a  view  to 
combine  utility  and  beauty,  p.lGO.  The  orchard  and  kitchen  garden,  p.  161. 
Attached  conservatory,  p.  163. 


DESIGN    X. 

A    VILLA    IN    THE    GOTHIC,    OR    POINTED    STYLE. 

Character  of  the  exterior,  p.  1G5.  Complete  interior  arrangement,  p.  166. 
The  dining,  drawing-room  and  library,  and  other  apartments,  of  the  principal 
floor,  p.  107.  The  second  floor  and  basement  accommodation,  p.  167.  Estimate, 
p.  16S.  Arrangement  of  the  grounds  ;  treatment  of  the  approach,  p.  16S.  Care 
and  judgment  necessary  in  opening  a  wooded  surface,  p.  171. 

ADDENDA. 

Cements  for  the  exterior  of  buildings,  p.  173.  Building  contracts,  p.  176. 
Employment  of  architects  and  professional  mentp.  179. 


i 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES, 


ARCHITECTURAL   SUGGESTIONS. 


"  True  Taste  is  an  excellent  economist.  She  confines  her  choice  to  few 
objects,  and  delights  to  produce  great  effects  by  small  means ;  while  False 
Taste  is  for  ever  sighing  after  the  new  and  rare  ;  and  reminds  us,  in  her 
works,  of  the  scholar  of  Apelles,  who,  not  being  able  to  paint  his  Helen 
beautiful,  determined  to  make  her  fine." 

There  are  certain  leading  principles  connected  with  archi- 
tecture, which  earnestly  demand  our  attention  on  the  very 
threshold  of  the  subject.  In  an  indefinite  manner  they  are, 
perhaps,  acknowledged  by  all  intelligent  minds,  but  they  are 
only  distinctly  and  clearly  understood  by  those,  who,  having 
analysed  the  expressions  or  characters  inherent  in  various 
forms  and  modes  of  building,  have  traced  the  impressions  de- 
rived, whether  of  utility  or  beauty,  to  their  proper  origin. 
When  the  mind  has  arrived  at  this  point,  the  satisfaction  it 
enjoys  in  an  admirable  work,  is  proportionably  greater  ;  in  the 
same  manner  (though  in  less  degree)  as  the  "  devout  astrono- 
mer "  enjoys,  with  a  far  more  intelligent  and  fervent  rapture, 
his  starry  gaze,  than  the  ignorant  eye  that  sees  only  a  myriad 
of  lights  hung  above  to  dispel  the  gloom  of  midnight. 

D.    H.   HILL   LIBRARY  \ 

a^h  $:arolina  State  College 


2  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

As  the  first  object  of  a  dwelling  is  to  afford  a  shelter  to  man, 
the  first  principle  belonging  to  architecture  grows  out  of  this 
primary  necessity,  and  it  is  called  the  principle  of  Fitness  or 
usefulness.  After  this,  man  naturally  desires  to  give  some 
distinctive  character  to  his  own  habitation,  to  mark  its  supe- 
riority to  those  devoted  to  animals.  This  gives  rise  to  the 
principle  of  Expression  of  Purpose.  Finally,  the  love  of  the 
beautiful,  inherent  in  all  finer  natures,  and  its  exhibition  in  cer- 
tain acknowledged  forms,  has  created  the  principle  of  the 
expression  of  Style.  In  other  words,  all  these  principles  may 
be  regarded  as  sources  of  beauty  in  domestic  architecture  ; 
Fitness  being  the  beauty  of  utility ;  Expression  of  purpose, 
the  beauty  of  propriety ;  and  Expression  of  Style,  the  beauty 
of  form  and  sentiment,  which  is  the  highest  in  the  scale.  We 
shall  say  a  few  words  in  illustration  of  our  ideas  on  each  par- 
ticular division. 

Fitness,  or  use,  is  the  first  principle  to  be  considered  in  all 
buildings.  Those  indeed  who  care  little  for  any  other  cha- 
racter in  a  dwelling,  generally  pride  themselves  upon  the 
amount  of  convenience  they  have  been  able  to  realize  in  it : 
and  nothing  could  be  in  worse  taste  than  to  embellish  or  deco- 
rate a  dwelling-house  which  is  wanting  in  comfort,  as  the  beau- 
tiful is  never  satisfactory  when  not  allied  to  the  true. 

In  a  dwelling-house,  our  every  day  comfort  is  so  entirely 
dependent  on  a  convenient  arrangement  of  the  rooms,  or  plan 
of  the  interior,  that  this  is  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the 
mofit  important  consideration.  To  have  the  principal  rooms 
or  apartments  situated  on  the  most  favorable  side  of  the  house 
with  regard  to  aspect,  in  order  that  they  may  be  light,  warm, 
or  airy,  and,  in  respect  to  view,  that  they  may  command  the 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 


finest  prospects,  are  desiderata  in  every  kind  of  dwelling.  In 
all  climates  the  stormy  quarters  are  the  worst  aspects,  and  the 
fair  weather  quarters  the  best  ones.  Thus,  in  the  middle 
states,  a  south-west  aspect  (all  other  things  being  equal)  is  the 
best  for  the  finer  rooms,  and  a  north-east  the  most  disagreeable. 
In  hot  climates,  a  north  exposure  may  be  agreeable  on  account 
of  its  coolness,  but  in  all  temperate  latitudes,  a  southern  one  is 
more  desirable  for  the  entire  year. 

In  arranging  the  different  apartments  of  a  cottage  or  villa, 
great  variations  will  naturally  arise  out  of  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances, mode  of  living,  or  individual  wants  of  the  family 
by  whom  it  is  to  be  inhabited.  Thus,  a  small  family  living  a 
secluded  life,  or  one  composed  of  infirm  persons,  would 
prefer  to  have  their  sleeping  apartments,  their  kitchen,  and 
other  conveniences,  on  the  same  floor  with  the  parlor  or 
living  room,  even  at  the  expense  of  one  or  two  handsome 
rooms,  for  the  sake  of  the  greater  convenience  in  conducting 
domestic  affairs,  and  the  greater  ease  and  comfort  thereby 
realized.  On  the  other  hand,  a  family  fond  of  social  inter- 
course, and  accustomed  to  entertain,  would  greatly  prefer, 
in  a  cottage  or  villa  of  moderate  size,  to  have  several  hand- 
some apartments,  as  a  drawing-room,  library,  dining-room, 
etc.,  occupying  almost  exclusively  the  principal  floor,  pla- 
cing the  kitchen  and  its  oflices  in  the  basement,  and  the  bed- 
rooms in  the  second  story.  This  arrangement  would  perhaps 
be  less  convenient  in  a  few  respects  for  the  family,  but  it 
would  be  more  elegant  and  more  satisfactory  for  the  kind  of 
residence  intended — each  department  of  the  house  being  com- 
plete in  itself,  and  intruding  itself  but  little  on  the  attention  of 
the  family  or  guests  when  not  required  to  be  visible,  which  is 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


the  ideal  of  domestic  accommodation.  A  kitchen  on  the  first 
floor  has  the  advantage  of  being  more  accessible,  and  more 
completely  under  the  surveillance  of  the  mistress  of  the  house, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  open  to  the  objection  of  being 
occasionally  offensive  in  the  matter  of  sound,  sight,  and  smells  ; 
unless,  in  the  case  of  large  houses,  where  these  may  be 
excluded  by  long  passages  and  double  doors.  Some  families 
have  a  literary  taste,  and  to  them  a  library  would  be  an 
indispensable  apartment,  while  others,  caring  less  for  books, 
would  in  the  same  space  prefer  a  bedroom.  We  mention 
these  circumstances  to  show  in  what  a  relative  sense  the 
term  fitness,  as  regards  accommodation,  must  be  used,  and 
how  many  peculiar  circumstances  must  be  considered  before 
we  can  pronounce  decidedly  upon  the  merits  or  demerits  of 
a  plan.  What  may  be  entirely  fit  and  convenient  for  one, 
would  be  considered  quite  unsuitable  for  another.  Hence 
the  great  difficulty  of  arranging  plans  exactly  to  suit  all 
wants.  And  hence  the  importance  to  all  persons,  and  espe- 
cially ladies,  who  understand  best  the  principle  of  convenience, 
of  acquiring  some  architectural  knowledge.  There  are  doubt- 
less many  desiring  to  build  a  cottage,  who  will  find  no  one 
of  the  plans  hereafter  submitted  precisely  what  they  want, 
and  this  will  be  found  to  arise  mainly  from  their  having 
certain  peculiar  wants  growing  out  of  their  habits  or  posi- 
tion, for  which  no  artist,  not  familiar  with  these,  could  pos- 
sibly provide. 

There  are  some  rules  of  fitness  of  nearly  universal  applica- 
tion. Thus  a  dining-room  should  obviously  have  connected 
with  it,  either  a  pantry  or  a  large  closet,  or  both  ;  and  it  should 
be  so  placed  as  to  afford  easy  ingress   and   egress    to,    and 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  6 

from  the  kitchen.  The  drawing-room,  parlor,  or  finest  apart- 
ment, should  look  out  on  the  most  beautiful  view,  either  over 
a  distant  prospect,  if  there  be  such,  or,  if  not,  upon  the  fine 
home  landscape  of  trees,  lawn,  or  flower-garden.  A  library 
may  occupy  a  more  secluded  position,  and  requires  less 
attention  to  outward  circumstances,  as  the  materiel  from 
whence  it  dispenses  enjoyment  is  within  itself.  Again,  there 
are  other  minor  points  more  generally  understood,  which  may 
be  considered  under  this  principle,  and  to  which  we  need 
scarcely  allude.  Among  these  are  the  construction  of  proper 
drains  to  the  kitchen  and  basement,  the  introduction  of  water 
pipes,  cisterns,  etc.  A  bathing  room  requires  little  space,  and 
may  be  easily  constructed  in  any  cottage,  and  its  great  impor- 
tance to  health  renders  it  a  most  desirable  feature  in  all  our 
houses.  No  dwelling  can  be  considered  complete  which  has 
not  a  water-closet  under  its  roof,  though  the  expense  may  yet 
for  some  time  prevent  their  general  introduction  in  small  cot- 
tages. 

In  a  country  like  ours,  where  the  population  is  comparatively 
sparse,  civil  rights  equal,  and  wages  high,  good  servants  or 
domestics  are  comparatively  rare,  and  not  likely  to  retain  their 
places  for  a  long  time.  The  maximum  of  comfort,  therefore, 
is  found  to  consist  in  employing  the  smallest  number  of  ser- 
vants actually  necessary.  This  may  be  greatly  facilitated  by 
having  all  the  apartments  conveniently  arranged  with  reference 
to  their  various  uses,  and  still  further  by  introducing  certain 
kinds  of  domestic  labor-saving  apparatus  to  lessen  the  amount 
of  service  required,  or  to  render  its  performance  easy.  Among 
those  which  we  would,  from  experience,  especially  recommend 


6  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

for    cottages,  are   the   rising   cupboard   or   dumb   waiter,  the 
speaking  tube,  and  the  rotary  pump. 

The  rising  cupboard  is  only  required  in  the  case  of  a  base- 
ment kitchen,  and  in  this  instance,  it  will  be  found  to  render 
the  labor  of  carrying  the  dinner  to  and  from  the  kitchen,  much 
easier  than  that  experienced  in  bringing  it  from  a  kitchen  on 
the  same  floor,  with  less  risk  of  broken  china  or  dishes.  The 
unsightly  appearance  of  a  cupboard  rising  through  the  floor  in 
a  corner  of  the  dining-room,  is  obviated  by  having  it  enclosed 
by  a  fixed  case,  like  a  small  side-board,  and  its  construction  we 
shall  show  hereafter. 

Speaking  tubes  are  merely  common  tin  tubes  one  and  a  half 
inches  in  diameter,  terminated  by  mouth-pieces,  one  of  which 
is  in  the  kitchen,  the  other  in  the  desired  apartment.  They 
will  usually  only  be  required  in  two  rooms,  viz.  the  dining- 
room  and  the  family  bedroom,  and  in  constructing  the  house 
they  may  be  introduced  and  led  through  the  partitions  at  a 
very  trifling  cost.  They  save  much  time  and  labor,  as  by  their 
aid  we  may  be  able  to  communicate  our  wants  in  a  whisper 
from  the  chamber  floor  to  the  kitchen,  and  have  them  complied 
with  more  speedily  than  we  should  be  able,  by  the  ordinary  use 
of  the  bell  only,  to  bring  the  servant  to  our  room  to  learn  our 
wishes. 

The  rotary  pump  may  be  considered  as  supplying  the  place 
in  a  cottage  of  the  extensive  arrangement  of  water  pipes 
introduced  in  the  best  mansions  for  supplying  the  upper  or 
chamber  story  with  water.  A  rotary  pump,  placed  in  some 
convenient  position  in  the  hall  of  the  chamber  floor  of  a 
cottage,  and  communicating  by  a  leaden  pipe  with  a  cistern 
outside,  may  be  said  to  place   an  abundant    supply  of  water 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  7 

within  a  few  steps  of  every  bedroom  in  that  story.  This, 
it  is  evident,  will  save  much  labor  in  carrying  water  daily, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  comfort  of  having  a  fresh  supply 
within  reach  at  any  moment.  The  introduction  of  a  com- 
plete set  of  water  pipes  in  a  house  is  expensive,  and  to 
keep  them  in  repair  is  a  considerable  additional  tax,  but 
the  comparative  cheapness  and  efficiency  of  the  rotary  pump 
(which  is  the  neatest  and  most  complete  apparatus)  ren- 
der it,  or  something  of  this  same  description,  an  almost 
indispensable  convenience  in  a  cottage  of  more  than  one 
story. 

The  universally  acknowledged  utility  of  closets,  renders  it 
unnecessary  for  us  to  say  anything  to  direct  attention  to  them 
under  this  head.  In  the  principal  story,  a  pantry  or  closets 
are  a  necessary  accompaniment  to  the  dining  or  living  room, 
but  are  scarcely  required  in  connexion  with  any  of  the  other 
apartments.  Bedrooms  always  require  at  least  one  closet  to 
each,  and  more  will  be  found  convenient.  One,  or  sometimes 
two,  may  always  be  provided,  in  a  chamber  having  a  fire- 
place, by  enclosing  the  space  on  one  side  of  the  chimney 
breast,  and  in  all  cottage  villas,  or  villas  of  good  size,  one  or 
two  bedrooms  should  be  provided  with  dressing-rooms  at- 
tached, which  will  be  found  to  add  greatly  to  the  real  comfort 
of  the  apartment.  Some  persons,  however,  have  such  a  pas- 
sion for  closets,  that  they  not  unfrequently  destroy  all  the  merit 
of  a  plan,  by  cutting  up  the  interior  so  as  to  afford  them  in 
abundance.  A  plan  of  very  moderate  size  will  perhaps  only 
afford  a  few  rooms  of  good  size  and  proportion,  which  would 
be  injured  or  destroyed  by  cutting  off  many  closets.  It  is  far 
better  to  substitute  wardrobes,  or  movable  closets,  than  thus 


8  COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 

to  sacrifice  all  space,  and  elegance  of  arrangement,  to  con- 
venience. 

The  mode  of  construction,  and  the  materials  employed,  are 
also  comprised  under  the  head  of  fitness.  In  this  country, 
from  the  great  abundance  and  cheapness  of  wood,  it  has,  until 
within  a  few  years,  been  almost  the  only  material  employed  in 
constructing  country  houses  :  but  as  timber  has  grown  scarcer 
in  the  forest,  it  has  become  dearer,  until,  in  many  parts  of  the 
Atlantic  States,  stone  or  brick  is  equally  economical.  Wood 
is  acknowledged  by  all  architects  to  be  the  worst  material  for 
building,  and  should  never  be  employed  when  it  is  in  the  power 
of  the  builder  to  use  any  other.  Its  want  of  durability,  the 
expense  of  painting  it  and  keeping  it  in  repair,  and  its  frailness 
and  liability  to  decay  by  the  action  of  the  weather,  are  all 
very  serious  objections  to  it  as  a  material  for  dwelling-houses. 
A  cottage  of  wood  is,  from  the  thinness  of  the  exterior,  neces- 
sarily warmer  in  summer,  and  colder  in  winter,  than  one  built 
of  more  solid  materials.  Filling-in  with  brick  decreases  this 
objection,  but  does  not  entirely  remove  it.  In  point  of  taste,  a 
house  built  of  wood  strikes  us  the  least  agreeably,  as  our 
pleasure  in  beholding  a  beautiful  form  is  marred  by  the  idea 
of  the  frailness  of  the  material  composing  that  form.  We  are 
aware  that  the  almost  universal  prevalence  of  wooden  country 
houses  in  the  United  States  has  weakened  this  impression,  but 
the  strength  with  which  it  strikes  an  European,  accustomed  to 
solidity  and  permanence  in  a  dwelling,  is  the  best  proof  of  the 
truth  of  our  remark.  And  even  in  this  country,  the  change 
of  feeling  which  is  daily  taking  place  on  this  subject,  shows 
very   plainly    in   how  little  estimation   wood  will    be   held  as 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  9 

a   building  material,   compared  with  brick   or   stone,  by  the 
next  generation. 

Brick   is   the   next   best   material    to    wood,  and   is   every 
day  coming  into   more  general   use.      The  walls   formed  of 
it,  if  well   constructed,  have  a  solidity   and   permanence   ap- 
propriate  for   a   dwelling,   and   requiring  little   cost  to   keep 
it   in   repair.      The  offensive  hue  of  red   brick  walls   in  the 
country,  is  easily  removed  by  coloring  them  any  agreeable 
tint,  which  will  also  render  them  dryer  and  more  permanent. 
Brick  and  stucco  (that  is,  a  wall    built  of  rough  brick,  and 
coated  exteriorly  with  a  cement)  is,  when  well  executed,  one 
of  the  best  materials  for  cottages  or  villas.     It  is  much  warmer 
and   dryer  than  wood,   or   even   stone,   and   is   equal   to   the 
latter   in   external    effect,   when   marked   off   and   colored   to 
resemble  it.     We  have  no  doubt  that  in  a  short  time  it  will 
have  a  very  general  preference  in  most  sections  of  the  coun- 
try.* 

Stone  is  generally  conceded  to  be  superior,  on  the  whole, 
to  any  other  material  for  building.  This  is  owing  to  its 
great  durability  and  solidity,  both  in  expression  and  in  reality  ; 
and  to  its  requiring  no  trouble  to  keep  it  in  repair,  as 
it  suffers  little  or  no  injury  from  the  action  of  the  ele- 
ments. 


*  The  common  hydraulic  cements  of  New  York  are  unfit  for  plastering  the 
exterior  of  houses,  and  many  persons  who  have  only  seen  these  employed 
(mixed  perhaps  with  dirty,  instead  of  sharp,  clean  sand),  suppose  that  all 
cements  are  equally  liable  to  crumble  by  exposure  to  damp  and  frost.  The 
cement  (or  hydraulic  limes)  of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania  are  greatly  superior 
for  stucco  or  external  plaster,  becoming,  when  well  applied,  nearly  as  firm  and 
durable  as  stone. 


10  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

When  houses  are  built  of  brick  or  stone,  the  interior  plaster- 
ing should  never  be  put  directly  upon  the  inner  face  of  the 
wall,  as  is  sometimes  done  by  careless  or  ignorant  mecha- 
nics: but  the  lathing  upon  which  it  is  formed  should  always 
be  separated  from  the  solid  wall  by  what  is  technically 
called  "  furring  off,"  which  leaves  a  space  of  two  or  more 
inches  between  the  solid  wall,  and  that  of  plaster.  This 
vacuity  is,  of  course,  occupied  by  air,  which  is  a  better 
non-conductor  than  any  wall,  prevents  effectually  the  pene- 
tration of  all  dampness,  and  renders  the  wall  warmer  than 
would  three  times  the  same  thickness  of  solid  material. 

When  we  are  necessarily  restricted  to  the  employment 
of  a  certain  material,  both  fitness  and  good  taste  require 
that  there  should  be  a  correspondence  between  the  material 
used  and  the  style  adopted  for  the  building.  Heavy  and 
massive  architecture,  a  temple,  a  castle,  or  a  mansion,  should 
be  built  of  stone  only,  or  some  solid  enduring  substance,  but 
cottages  in  some  light  and  fanciful  styles  may  with  more 
propriety  be  erected  in  wood,  that  material  being  in  harmony 
with  the  expression  of  the  form  and  outlines.  There  cannot 
well  be  a  greater  violation  of  correct  taste,  than  to  build  a 
Gothic  castellated  villa  with  thin  wooden  boards.  It  is  a  spe- 
cies of  counterfeit  coin  which  will  never  pass  current  with 
cultivated  minds.  De  Tocqueville,  in  his  remarks  on  the  spirit 
in  which  the  Americans  cultivate  the  art,  says,  "  When  I  arrived 
for  the  first  time  at  New  York,  by  that  part  of  the  Atlantic 
ocean  which  is  called  the  Narrows,  I  was  surprised  to  perceive 
along  the  shore,  at  some  distance  from  the  city,  a  considerable 
number  of  palaces  of  white  marble,  several  of  which  were 
built  after  the  models  of  ancient  architecture."     His  surprise 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  II 

was  still  greater,  however,  when  he  went  the  next  day  to 
inspect  the  temple  that  had  particularly  attracted  his  notice, 
to  find  that  its  imposing  portico  was  supported  by  huge  columns 
of  painted  wood. 

Something  might  be  said  on  the  subject  of  fitness,  with 
regard  to  the  fi^irniture  and  interior  decoration  of  our 
dwelling-houses.  There  is  a  great  charm  about  a  country 
house,  fitted  up  or  furnished  simply,  appropriately,  and  com- 
fortably. A  profusion  of  mirrors,  of  gilding,  or  of  chairs 
or  sofas,  too  magnificent  except  for  show,  strikes  us  dis- 
agreeably amid  the  freshness,  the  silence,  and  simplicity  of 
nature,  which  quietly  looks  us  in  the  face  at  every  window  of  a 
house  in  the  country. 

The  expression  of  purpose  in  architecture  is  conveyed  by 
features  in  a  building,  or  by  its  whole  appearance,  suggesting 
the  end  in  view,  or  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  intended.  A 
church,  for  example,  is  easily  known  by  its  spire,  or  a  barn  by 
its  plain  large  doors,  and  the  absence  of  chimneys,  and  the 
reason  acknowledges  a  satisfaction  in  finding  them  to  be  what 
they  appear,  or,  in  other  words,  with  the  truthfulness  of  their 
expression.  Whatever,  therefore,  tends  to  heighten  expression 
of  purpose,  must  grow  out  of  some  quality  which  connects  itself 
in  the  mind  with  the  use  for  which  it  is  designed,  and  a  genu- 
ine mode  of  increasing  our  admiration  of  any  building,  is 
to  render  it  expressive  of  the  purpose  for  which  it  is 
built. 

Although,  at  first  thought,  it  would  appear  that  persons 
would  be  little  likely  to  fall  into  error  in  violating  the  truthful- 
ness of  a  building,  yet  examples  do  not  unfrequently  occur. 
Some  of  our  dwelling-houses  are  so  meagre  and  comfortless  in 


12  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

their  exteriors,  that  one  might  be  fairly  pardoned  for  supposing 
them  bams,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  we  have  seen  stables  so 
decorated  with  green  shutters  and  pilasters,  that  they  have 
actually  been  mistaken  for  dwelling-houses.  A  blind  passion 
for  a  particular  style  of  building  may  also  tend  to  destroy 
expression  of  purpose.  It  would  certainly  be  difficult  for  a 
stranger  in  some  of  our  towns,  where  the  taste  for  Grecian 
temples  prevails,  to  distinguish  with  accuracy  between  a 
church,  a  bank,  and  a  hall  of  justice. 

Not  only  should  the  whole  house  have  a  general  character 
denoting  the  end  in  view,  but  every  portion  of  it  should  be 
made,  as  far  as  possible,  to  convey  the  same  impression.  The 
various  useful  features  entering  into  its  composition,  should  all 
be  expressive  of  the  end  for  which  they  are  intended,  and 
should  appear  to  answer  their  purpose.  Thus  large  windows 
indicate  spacious  and  well  ventilated  apartments,  and  although 
propriety  requires  the  windows  of  the  principal  rooms  to  be 
made  larger  than  those  of  the  chamber  story,  yet  the  latter 
should  not  be  shorn  of  their  due  proportions  so  as  to  be  expres- 
sive of  imperfect  accommodation.  One  of  the  most  common 
errors,  which  of  late  has  crept  into  our  suburban  builders' 
heads,  is  the  introduction  of  short  attic  windows  into  the  second 
or  third  story  of  their  houses.  However  satisfactory  such 
dwellings  may  otherwise  be,  the  expression  of  low  and  confined 
chambers,  conveyed  by  these  cramped  windows,  destroys  all 
pleasure  in  contemplating  their  exteriors. 

The  prominent  features,  conveying  expression  of  purpose 
in  dwelling-houses,  are,  the  chimneys,  the  windows,  and  the 
porch,  veranda,  or  piazza ;  and  for  this  reason,  whenever  it  is 
desired  to  raise  the  character  of  a  cottage  or  villa  above  medi- 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  13 

ocrit}-,  attention  should  first  be  bestowed  on  those  portions  of 
the  building. 

The  chimney  tops,  in  all  countries  where  fires  are  used, 
are  decidedly  expressive  of  purpose,  as  they  are  associated 
with  all  our  ideas  of  warmth,  the  cheerful  fire-side,  and  the 
social  winter  circle.     The  learned  Bishop  Hall  says, 

"  Look  to  the  tower'd  chimnies,  which  should  be 
The  wind-pipes  of  good  hospitalitie." 

"  In  every  human  habitation,"  says  Loudon,  "  these  chimne\" 
tops  ought  to  be  conspicuous  objects,  because  they  are  its 
essential  characteristics.  They  distinguish  apartments  destined 
for  human  beings  from  those  designed  for  lodging  cattle. 
They  also  distinguish  a  dwelling-house  from  a  manufactory  or 
workshop,  by  their  size,  number,  form,  or  disposition."  As 
chimney  tops  are  thus  so  essential  a  part  of  dwelling-houses, 
we  should  endeavor  to  render  them  pleasing  objects,  and 
increase  their  importance  by  making  them  ornamental.  The 
clumsy  mass  of  bricks  should  be  enlivened  and  rendered  ele- 
gant by  varying  its  form,  ornamenting  its  sides  and  summit, 
or  separating  the  whole  into  distinct  flues,  forming  a  cluster, 
in  modes  of  which  there  are  a  multitude  of  suitable  examples 
in  the  various  styles  of  architecture.  The  chimney  tops  gene- 
rally occupy  the  highest  portions  of  the  roof,  breaking  against 
the  sky  boldly,  and,  if  enriched,  will  not  only  increase  the 
expression  of  purpose,  but  add  also  to  the  picturesque  beauty 
of  the  composition. 

The  porch,  the  veranda,  or  the  piazza,  are  highly  character- 
istic features,  and  no  dwelling-house  can  be  considered  com- 
plete without  one  or  more  of  them.     The  entrance  door,  even 


14  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

in  the  humblest  cottage,  should  always  be  a  conspicuous 
feature  in  its  front,  and  it  may  be  rendered  so,  by  a  porch  or 
veranda  of  some  kind,  which  will  serve  to  keep  the  entrance 
dry  and  warm  in  inclement  weather.  In  all  countries  like 
ours,  w^here  there  are  hot  summers,  a  veranda,  piazza,  or  colon- 
nade, is  a  necessary  and  delightful  appendage  to  a  dwelling- 
house,  and  in  fact  during  a  considerable  part  of  the  year, 
frequently  becomes  the  lounging  apartment  of  the  family. 
Hence  a  broad  shady  veranda  suggests  ideas  of  comfort,  and 
is  highly  expressive  of  purpose.  For  the  same  reason  bay 
or  oriel  windows,  balconies,  and  terraces,  added  to  villas, 
increase  their  interest,  not  only  by  their  beauty  of  form,  but 
by  their  denoting  more  forcibly  those  elegant  enjoyments 
which  belong  to  the  habitation  of  man  in  a  cultivated  and 
refined  state  of  society. 

The  color  of  buildings  may  very  properly  be  made  to 
increase  their  expression  of  truthfulness.  Thus  a  barn  or 
stable  being  regarded  entirely  in  a  useful  point  of  view,  may 
have  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  tone  of  color,  while  a  cottage  or 
villa  should  be  of  a  cheerful  mellow  hue  harmonizing  with 
the  verdure  of  the  country.  A  mansion  may  very  properly 
have  a  graver  color  than  a  cottage,  to  be  in  unison  with  its 
greater  dignity  and  extent.  There  is  one  color,  however, 
frequently  employed  by  house  painters,  which  we  feel  bound 
to  protest  against  most  heartily,  as  entirely  unsuitable,  and  in 
bad  taste.  This  is  white,  which  is  so  universally  applied  to 
our  wooden  houses  of  every  size  and  description.  The  glaring 
nature  of  this  color,  when  seen  in  contrast  with  the  soft  green 
of  foliage,  renders  it  extremely  unpleasant  to  an  eye  attuned 
to  harmony  of  coloring,  and  nothing  but  its  very  great  preva- 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  15 

lence  in  the  United  States  could  render  even  men  of  some  taste 
so  heedless  of  its  bad  effect.  No  painter  of  landscapes,  that 
has  possessed  a  name,  was  ever  guilty  of  displaying  in  his 
pictures  a  glaring  white  house,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  build- 
ings introduced  by  the  great  masters  have  uniformly  a  mellow 
softened  shade  of  color,  in  exquisite  keeping  with  the  surround- 
ing objects.* 

We  shall  quote  on  this  subject  some  remarks  in  point  by 
Uvedale  Price,  whose  name  is  of  high  authority. f  "One  of 
the  most  charming  effects  of  sunshine,  is  its  giving  to  objects 
not  merely  light,  but  that  mellow  golden  hue  so  beautiful  in 
itself,  and  which,  when  diffused  as  in  a  fine  evening  over  the 
whole  landscape,  creates  that  rich  union  and  harmony  so 
enchanting  in  nature  and  Claude.  In  any  scene,  whether  real 
or  painted,  when  such  harmony  prevails,  the  least  discordancy 
in  color  would  disturb  the  eye :  but  if  we  suppose  a  single 
object  of  a  glaring  white  to  be  introduced,  the  whole  attention, 
in  spite  of  all  our  efforts  to  the  contrary,  will  be  drawn  to  that 
one  point ;  if  many  such  objects  be  scattered  about,  the  eye 
will  be  distracted  among  them.  Again  (to  consider  it  in 
another  view),  when  the  sun  breaks  out  in  gleams,  there  is 
something  that  delights  and  surprises,  in  seeing  an  object, 
before  only  visible,  lighted  up  in  splendor,  and  then  gradually 
sinking  into  shade :  but  a  whitened  object  is  already  lighted  up ; 
it  remains  so  w^hen  everything  else  has  retired  into  obscurity ; 
it  still  forces  itself  into  notice,  still  impudently  stares  you  in  the 

*  To  render  the  effect  still  worse,  our  modern  builders  paint  their  Venetian 
window  shutters  a  bright  green  !  A  cool  dark  green  would  be  in  better  taste, 
and  more  agreeable  to  the  eye,  both  from  the  exterior  and  the  interior. 

f  Essays  on  the  Picturesque. 


16  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

face.  An  object  of  a  sober  tint,  unexpectedly  gilded  by  the 
sun,  is  like  a  serious  countenance  suddenly  lighted  up  by  a 
smile:  a  whitened  object  like  the  eternal  grin  of  a  fool." 
There  may  be  a  little  sarcasm  in  the  tone  of  these  remarks,  but 
that  they  are  strictly  true  every  fine  colorist  will  admit. 

As  it  is  difficult  to  convey  in  words  a  proper  idea  of  delicate 
shades  of  color,  and  as  we  think  the  subject  one  of  very 
great  importance  in  domestic  architecture,  we  have  given 
specimens  tm  the  opposite  page  of  six  shades  of  color  highly 
suitable  for  the  exterior  of  cottages  and  villas.  A,  B,  and  C, 
are  shades  of  grey,  and  E,  F,  G,  of  drab  or  fawn  color ;  which 
will  be  found  pleasing  and  harmonious  in  any  situation  in  the 
country.  Stuccoed  or  cemented  buildings  should  be  marked 
"  ofFnn  courses,  and  tinted  to  resemble  some  mellow  stone; 
Bath,  Portland  stone,  or  any  other  of  the  light  free-stone 
shades,  are  generally  most  agreeable. 

A  person  of  correct  architectural  taste  will  carry  his  feeling 
of  artistical  propriety  into  the  interior  of  his  house,  and  confer 
on  each  apartment,  by  expression  of  purpose,  a  kind  of  indivi- 
duality. Thus,  in  a  complete  cottage-villa,  the  hall  will  be 
grave  and  simple  in  character,  a  few  plain  seats  its  principal 
furniture;  the  library  sober  and  dignified,  or  bookish  and 
learned  in  its  air ;  the  dining-room  cheerful,  with  a  hospitable 
sideboard  and  table;  the  drawing-room  lively  or  brilliant, 
adorned  with  pictures  or  other  objects  in  art,  and  evincing 
more  elegance  and  gaiety  of  tone  in  its  colors  and  furniture. 
The  bedrooms  would  be  simple,  or  only  pretty,  with  abun- 
dant ventilation,  and  ceilings  of  full  height,  and  not  low  or 
contracted. 

We  have  thus  sketched  the  ground-work  upon  which  archi- 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  17 

lecture  rests,  fitness  and  expression  of  purpose,  but  architecture 
which  goes  no  further  is  only  a  useful,  not  a  fine  art.  It  is 
only  building.  The  true  artist  breathes  a  life  and  soul,  which 
is  beauty,  into  the  dead  utilitarian  materials,  stone  and  wood, 
and  they  speak  a  language  that  is  understood  as  readily  as  that 
of  animate  nature.  The  mechanic  blocks  out  the  stone  from 
the  quarry,  he  even  gives  to  it  the  semblance  of  the  human 
form,  but  the  sculptor  only  moulds  the  cold  marble  into  a 
passion  or  a  sentiment  that  endures  for  ages,  and  strikes  men 
of  speech  dumb  with  its  voiceless  eloquence,  A  Greek  temple, 
or  an  old  cathedral,  speaks  to  the  soul  of  all  men  as  audibly  as 
could  a  Demosthenes,  Even  a  Swiss  chalet,  with  its  drooping, 
shadowy  eaves,  or  an  old  English  cottage,  with  its  quaint 
peaked  gables,  each  embodies  a  sentim.eut  in  its  peculiar  form, 
which  takes  hold  of  the  mind,  and  convinces  us  thai,  in  some 
way  or  other,  it  has  a  living  power.  To  reproduce  the  beauti- 
ful in  this  manner,  and  to  infuse  a  spirit  and  a  grace  in  forms 
otherwise  only  admirable  for  their  usefulness,  is  the  ideal  of 
architecture  as  an  art  of  taste,  and  its  inspiration  may  be  seen 
here  and  there  in  some  humble  nook-hidden  cottage,  as  well  as 
m  the  dome  of  St.  Peter's, 

As  all  the  satisfaction  which  the  reason  experiences  in  build- 
ing as  an  useful  art,  arises  from  fitness  and  expression  of  pur- 
pose, so  all  the  delight  which  the  imagination  receives  from 
architecture  as  an  art  of  taste,  is  derived  from  beauty  of  fornix 
and  from  the  sentiment  associated  with  certain  modes  of  build- 
ing long  prevalent  in  any  age  or  country. 

Aside  from  certain  styles  of  architecture,  which  have  re- 
ceived  the   approbation   of  all   men   for  their  acknowledged 

beauty,  and  which  are   generally  followed  by  architects,  there 
2 


18  COTTAGE     REr?IDENCE3. 

are  also  some  leading  rules  which  should  govern  us  in  the 
composition  of  buildings  in  any  style,  however  simple,  because 
they  are  inherent  sources  of  beauty,  common  to  all  styles. 

The  first  of  these  is  the  principle  of  Unity,  a  principle  of 
the  highest  importance  in  all  works  of  art.  There  should  be 
an  unity  of  design  in  all  portions  of  the  same  building,  show- 
ing, by  a  correspondence  of  its  various  parts,  that  they  all 
originated  in  the  same  mind ;  an  unity  of  style,  avoiding  the 
introduction,  in  an  established  mode,  of  any  portions  or  mem- 
bers not  in  keeping  with  that  mode ;  and  an  unity  of  decora- 
tion, evinced  in  the  appropriate  application  of  enrichment  to 
the  whole,  rather  than  to  a  single  part,  of  an  edifice.  These 
rules  of  Unity  are  not  unfrequently  violated  by  architects, 
but  always  at  the  expense  of  the  beauty  and  perfection  of 
their  works,  as  no  artist  is  superior  to  principles.*  The  pro- 
duction of  a  whole  follows  as  the  result  of  attention  to  the 
principles  of  Unity,  and  our  pleasure  in  every  work  of  art  is 
enduring,  precisely  in  proportion  as  it  forms  a  perfect  whole. 
Unity  is  the  principle  of  Oneness,  and  its  violation  always 
shocks  a  tasteful  and  consistent  mind.  As  an  example  of  the 
violation  of  unity  of  style,  we  might  refer  to  a  number  of 
country  chapels  or  cliurches,  within  our  knowledge,  where 
a  Grecian  portico  and  Gothic  or  pointed  windows  occur  in 
the  same  composition  !  Or  to  illustrate  the  like  in  unity  of 
decoration  or  of  design,  how  many  country  dwellings  have 
we  all  seen,  with  a  highly  elegant  colonnade  in  front,  accom- 

'  •  "  Every  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  discountenance  that  false  and  vuljjar 
opinion,  that  rules  are  the  fetters  of  genius  ;  they  are  fetters  only  to  men  of  no 
genius." — Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  19 

panying  bare  sides,  without  the  least  corresponding  enrichment 
in  the  windows ! 

The  next  principles  of  composition  are  those  of  Uniformity 
and  of  Symmetry ;  two  words  which  frequently  pass  as  syno- 
nymous in  common  language. 

Uniformity  in  building  is  the  repetition  of  the  same  forms 
in  the  different  portions  or  sides  of  a  building.  "  A  hut  may 
be  recognised  as  a  work  of  art,  however  rude  or  anomalous 
its  form  ;  because,  according  to  human  experience,  its  sides, 
its  roof,  and  its  door,  could  never  have  been  arranged  so  as 
to  form  a  hut  by  chance.  Such  a  hut  is  satisfactory  as  a  work 
of  art,  but  nothing  more  ;  but  a  hut  in  a  square  form,  gives 
additional  satisfaction  by  the  regularity  of  its  figure  ;  which 
gives  an  idea  not  only  of  art,  but  of  cultivated  or  improved 
art.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  therefore,  that  the  love  of  regu- 
larity is  strongly  implanted  in  the  human  mind  ;  since  regu- 
larity is  the  first  principle  which  displays  itself  in  the  works 
of  man,  composed  with  a  view  to  beauty."*  Hence,  those 
persons  who  have  the  least  taste  or  imagination,  will  be  found 
to  prefer  a  plain  square  or  cube,  above  all  others,  for  a  house, 
as  being  the  first  principle  of  beauty  which  they  are  able  to 

discover  in  architecture.! 
«» 

As  Uniformity  is  the  balance  of  two  regular  parts,  so  the 
principle  of   Symmetry  may  be  defined  the  balance  of  two 

*"  Architectural  Magazine,  i.,  221. 

t  As,  besides  this,  a  square  or  parallelogram  is  the  most  economical  form  in 
which  a  house  can  be  built,  and  as  a  small  house  does  not  easily  permit  irregu- 
larity, we  have  adopted  it  in  designing  the  greater  number  of  cottages  which 
follow,  but  we  have  endeavored  to  raise  them  above  mere  uniformity,  by  adding 
such  characteristic  ornaments  as  give  also  some  variety  to  the  compositions. 


30 


COTTAGE     REflDENCES. 


irregular  parts ;  in  other  words,  Uniformity  in  works  of  art 
is  artistical  regularity,  Symmetry,  artistical  irregularity. 
There  are  irregular  buildings  without  symmetry,  but  in  all 
irregular  compositions  entirely  satisfactory,  it  will  generally 
be  found  that  there  is  a  kind  of  hidden  proportion  which  one 
half  of  the  whole  bears  to  the  other,  and  it  is  this  balance 
which  constitutes  symmetry. 

A  building  may  be  highly  irregular,  it  may  abound  in  variety 
and  picturesqueness,  and  yet  be  perfectly  symmetrical.  In 
the  annexed  rough  sketch  (Fig.  1),  the  pile  of  building  repre- 


I  Figure  1.] 

sented,  which  is  full  of  irregularity,  is  also  symmetrical,  for 
if  we  divide  it  by  the  imaginary  line  a,  the  portion  on  the 
right  balances  that  on  the  left ;  that  is,  though  not  in  shape, 
yet  in  bulk  and  in  the  mass  of  composition  ;  while  in  Fig.  2, 
which  is  a  uniform  or  regular  building,  the  portion  to  the  right 
balances  that  on  the  left  both  in  form  and  bulk.  Now  almost 
all  persons,  who  have  not  cultivated  a  taste  for  architecture, 
or  whose  organizations  are  deficient  in  this  faculty,  would 
prefer  a  regular  house  to  a  symmetrically  irregular  one, 
because  with  them  the  reason  only  demands  to  be  satisfied, 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


21 


[Figure  2.] 


but  with  more  cultivated  minds  the  taste  and  imagination  are 
active,  and  call  for  a  more  lively  and  varied  kind  of  beauty, 
and  the  irregular  building  would  be  chosen,  as  affording  more 
intense  and  enduring  pleasure. 

As  the  principles  of  Harmony,  Variety,  &c.,  are  intimately 
connected  with,  and  may  be  said  to  grow  out  of.  Unity, 
Unifomiity,  and  Symmetry,  we  shall  not  in  our  present  limits 
offer  any  remarks  upon  them. 

The  different  styles  in  architecture  are  certain  modes  of 
building,  which  have  had  their  origin  in  different  countries, 
and  may  be  considered  as  standard  forms  of  architectural 
beauty.  They  have,  almost  without  exception,  had  their  origin 
in  some  lofty  enthusiasm  of  the  age,  which  was  embodied  by 
the  master  artists  of  the  time,  generally  in  the  enthusiasm  of 
religion.  To  the  pagan  gods  were  reared  the  beautiful  temples 
of  the  Greeks,  and,  under  the  more  spiritual  influence  of 
Christianity,  arose  those  Gothic  cathedrals,  in  which  the 
ponderous  stone  was  wrought  in  the  most  exquisite  modifica- 
tions of  intricacy  and  beauty — those  cathedrals  which,  says 
an  eloquent  writer,  are  "a  blossoming  in  stone,  subdued  by 
the  insatiable  demand  of  harmonv  in  man."     In  like  manner 


22  COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 

the  oriental  style,  distinguished  by  its  mosques  and  minarets, 
and  the  Egyptian,  by  its  pyramids  and  cavernous  temples, 
have  all  had  their  origin  in  the  same  lofty  aspirations  of  the 
artist. 

All  domestic  architecture,  in  a  given  style,  should  be  a 
subdued  expression  or  manifestation  of  that  style  adjusted 
to  the  humbler  requirements  of  the  building  and  the  more 
quiet  purposes  of  domestic  life.  Hence  it  would  evidently 
be  absurd  to  copy  a  cathedral,  in  building  a  dwelling  in  the 
Gothic  style,  or  a  temple  in  a  cottage  after  the  Grecian  mode. 

Nearly  all  the  modes  of  building  in  modern  use  may  be 
referred  to  two  original  styles,  of  which  they  are  only  modifi- 
cations or  varieties,  viz.  to  the  Grecian,  in  which  horizontal 
lines  prevail,  and  to  the  Gothic,  in  which  vertical  lines  prevail ; 
and  there  have  not  been  wanting  artists  who  have  caught 
something  of  the  spirit  and  beauty  of  the  original  masterpieces 
of  art,  and  transfused  them  into  the  more  domestic  styles  which 
have  grown  out  of  these  to  suit  the  wants  of  civilized  life. 
Thus,  although  the  pure  Grecian  style  (the  temple)  was  not 
intended,  and  is  not  suitable  for  domestic  purposes,  the  Roman 
and  the  Italian  styles,  which  are  modified  forms  of  it,  are 
elegant  adaptations  of  its  characteristic  forms  to  this  purpose. 
The  Italian  style,  by  its  verandas  and  balconies,  its  projecting 
roofs,  and  the  capacity  and  variety  of  its  form,  is  especially 
suited  to  a  warm  climate. 

In  the  same  manner  the  Swiss,  the  Flemish,  and  other  conti- 
nental modes  of  building,  with  exterior  galleries,  and  wide 
horizontal  cornices,  are  all  variations  of  this  mode,  onlv  diflerino- 
in  some  peculiar  adaptation  to  the  climate  of  the  countrv,  or 
the  customs  of  the  people. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  23 

Neither  has  the  Gothic  been  confined  to  the  cathedral,  where, 
as  the  noblest  form,  it  exists  in  its  grandeur  and  purity,  but  its 
beauty  and  picturesqueness  have  reappeared  in  the  old  English 
styles  of  domestic  architecture.  The  most  perfect  examples 
are  those  of  the  castles  and  mansions  of  England  of  the 
time  of  the  Tudors,  but  the  whole  of  the  cottage  architec- 
ture of  England  is  imbued  with  its  spirit,  and  the  manifestations 
are  everywhere  visible,  in  quaintly  carved  gables  or  verge 
boards,  wreathed  and  clustered  chimneys,  beautiful  windows 
ornamented  with  tracery,  and  numberless  other  details,  highly 
expressive  and  characteristic. 

In  adopting  any  style  for  imitation,  our  preference  should  be 
guided  not  only  by  the  intrinsic  beauty  which  we  see  in  a 
particular  style,  but  by  its  appropriateness  to  our  uses.  This 
will  generally  be  indicated  by  the  climate,  the  site,  or  situation, 
and  the  wants  of  the  family  who  are  to  inhabit  it.  In  a  high 
northern  latitude,  where  it  is  evident  colonnades  and  verandas 
would  be  unsuitable  for  most  of  the  year,  the  Italian  or 
Grecian  styles  should  not  be  chosen,  and  in  a  tropical  one, 
the  warm,  solid,  comfortable  features  of  the  old  English 
architecture  would  not  be  necessary  or  appropriate.  In  a 
country  like  the  middle  portions  of  the  United  States,  where 
the  summers  are  hot  and  the  winters  cold,  there  is  sufficient 
latitude  for  the  adoption  of  various  styles  of  building,  and 
therefore  more  judgment  or  taste  is  requisite  in  the  selection. 

The  different  styles  of  architecture  have  been  very  aptly 
compared  to  different  languages,  employed  by  various  architects 
to  express  their  ideas,  and  which,  when  perfect,  always  remain 
nearly  fixed,  and  best  express  the  wants  of  a  particular  age  or 


24  COTTAGE     RESIDKVCES. 

country.  We  may  safely  carry  out  this  illustration,  and  say 
that  the  temples  and  cathedrals  are  the  orations  and  epic 
poems,  the  dwelling-houses  the  familiar  epistles  or  conversa- 
tions of  the  particular  styles. 

In  expressing  our  architectural  ideas  by  the  medium  of  a 
certain  style  or  language,  we  shall  succeed  best,  and  our  efforts 
will  aflbrd  most  delight,  the  more  nearly  we  approach  to  the 
nature  of  the  circumstances  under  which  the  style  or  language 
originated.  Thus,  if  we  talk  pure  Greek,  and  build  a  Grecian 
temple  for  a  dwelling,  we  shall  be  little  understood,  or  perhaps 
only  laughed  at  by  our  neighbors.  It  is  not  much  better  in  the 
present  day  to  recite  an  epic  poem  by  building  a  cathedi^al,  or 
a  heroic  one  by  constructing  a  castle  for  our  habitation.  Let 
us  rather  be  more  sensible,  though  not  less  graceful  in  our 
architectural  utterance,  and  express  a  pleasant,  every-day 
language,  in  an  old  English  mansion,  a  Rural  Gothic  cottage, 
or  an  Italian  villa. 

For  domestic  architecture,  we  would  strongly  recommend 
those  simple  modifications  of  architectural  styles,  where  the 
beauty  grows  out  of  the  enrichment  of  some  useful  or  elegant 
features  of  the  house,  as  the  windows  or  verandas,  rather  than 
those  where  some  strongly  marked  features,  of  little  domestic 
beauty,  overpower  the  rest  of  the  building.  The  Rural  Gothic 
style,  characterized  mainly  by  pointed  gables,  and  the  Italian, 
by  projecting  roofs,  balconies,  and  terraces,  are  much  the  most 
beautiful  modes  for  our  country  residences.  Their  outlines 
are  highly  picturesque  and  harmonious  with  nature.  Their 
forms  are  convenient,  their  accessories  elegant,  and  they  are 
highly  expressive  of  the  refined  and  unostentatious  enjoyments 
of  the  country.     We  have  pointed  out  in   another  work  the 


COTTAGE     RESrOENCES.  25 

objections  that  may  fairly  be  urged  against  tiie  false  taste 
lately  so  prevalent  among  us,  in  building  our  country  houses 
in  the  form  of  Greek  temples,  sacrificing  thereby  the  beauty 
of  variety,  much  convenience,  and  all  the  comfort  of  low  and 
shady  verandas,  to  the  ambitious  display  of  a  portico  of  stately 
columns ;  and  we  are  happy  to  see  that  the  fashion  is  on  the 
decline.  Let  us  hope  speedily  to  see  in  its  place  a  correct 
taste  springing  up  in  every  part  of  the  country,  which  shall 
render  our  cottage  homes  beautiful,  not  by  borrowing  the 
features  or  enrichments  of  a  temple  or  palace,  but  by  seeking 
beautiful  and  appropriate  forms,  characteristic  of  domestic 
life,  and  indicative  of  home  comforts. 

Not  a  little  of  the  delight  of  beautiful  buildings  to  a  cul- 
tivated mind  grows  out  of  the  sentiment  of  architecture,  or 
the  associations  connected  with  certain  styles.  Thus  the 
sight  of  an  old  English  villa  will  call  up  in  the  mind  of  one 
familiar  with  the  history  of  architecture,  the  times  of  the  Tu- 
dors,  or  of  "  Merry  England,"  in  the  days  of  Elizabeth.  The 
mingled  quaintness,  beauty,  and  picturesqueness  of  the  ex- 
terior, no  less  than  the  oaken  wainscot,  curiously  carved 
furniture,  and  fixtures  of  the  interior  of  such  a  dwelling,  when 
harmoniously  complete,  seem  to  transport  one  back  to  a  past 
age,  the  domestic  habits,  the  hearty  hospitality,  the  joyous  old 
sports,  and  the  romance  and  chivalry  of  which,  invest  it,  in  the 
dim  retrospect,  with  a  kind  of  golden  glow,  in  which  the  sha- 
dowy lines  of  poetry  and  reality  seem  strangely  interwoven 
and  blended. 

So  too  an  Italian  villa  may  recall,  to  one  familiar  with  Italy 
and  art,  by  its  bold  roof  lines,  its  campanile  and  its  shady  balco- 
nies, the  classic  beauty  of  that  fair  and  smiling  land,  where 


26  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

pictures,  sculptured  figures,  vases,  and  urns,  in  all  exquisite 
forms,  make  part  of  the  decorations  and  "  surroundings"  of  do- 
mestic and  public  edifices.  A  residence  in  the  Roman  style 
(more  suitable  than  the  Grecian)  may,  by  its  dignified  elegance 
of  arrangement  and  decoration,  recall  to  the  classic  mind  the 
famed  Tusculum  retreat  of  Pliny.  And  one  fond  of  the  wild 
and  picturesque,  whose  home  chances  to  be  in  some  one  of  our 
rich  moimtain  valleys,  may  give  it  a  jieculiar  charm  to  some 
minds  by  imitating  the  Swiss  cottage,  or  at  least  its  expressive 
and  striking  features.  A  great  deal  of  the  charm  of  architec- 
tural style,  in  all  cases,  will  arise  from  the  happy  union  be- 
tween the  locality  or  site,  and  the  style  chosen,  and  from  the 
entireness  with  which  the  architect  or  amateur  enters  into  the 
spirit  and  character  of  the  style,  and  carries  it  through  his 
whole  work.  This  may  be  done  in  a  small  cottage,  and  at 
little  cost,  as  well  as  in  a  mansion,  at  great  expense  ;  but  it 
requires  more  taste  and  skill  to  achieve  the  former  admira- 
bly, although  the  latter  may  involve  ten  times  the  magnitude. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


27 


DESIGN   I, 


A  suburban  cottage  for  a  small  family. 

We  have  supposed  this  cottage  to  be  situated  in  the  suburbs 
of  a  town  or  village,  and,  for  the  sake  of  illustrating  the  treat- 
ment of  a  small  portion  of  ground,  we  shall  also  imagine  it  to 
be  placed  on  a  lot  of  ground  75  feet  front  by  150  deep,  which, 
at  the  time  of  commencing  the  building,  has  upon  it  no  trees  or 
improvements  of  any  description. 

By  referring  to  the  plan  of  the  first  floor  of  this  cottage. 
Fig.  4,  the  reader  will  perceive  on  the  left  of  the  hall,  the 
parlor,  or  living-room,  16  feet  by  22  feet,  having  in  com- 
munication with  it,  a  pantry,  and  a  closet  for  books — each 
4  feet  by  8  feet.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  are,  the 
kitchen,  14  feet  by  16,  and  a  bedroom  12  feet  by  16  feet. 
In  the  plan  of  the  chamber  floor,  Fig.   5,  there  are  four  bed- 


^p^^s^$sg;»^s^isssm-?;^^^:^^ 


[Figure  5  J 


28  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

rooms  of  good  size,  and  one  of  small  dimensions.  Sufficient 
cellar  room  will  l)e  obtained  under  the  living-room,  closets, 
and  liall,  and  it  will  not  therefore  be  necessary  to  excavate  for 
this  purpose  under  the  kitchen  and  first  floor  bedroom  ;  a  cir- 
cumstance whicli  will  lessen  the  expense  in  building  the  foun- 
dation walls. 

This  simple  cottage  will  be  a  suitable  one  for  a  small  family 
when  the  mistress  wishes  to  have  the  management  of  the 
domestic  affairs  directly  under  her  own  personal  care  and 
supervision.  In  such  a  case  it  is  indispensable  to  have  the 
kitchen  on  the  same  floor  with  the  living-room,  though,  if 
possible,  not  opening  directly  into  it ;  as,  in  such  a  case,  the 
smell  arising  from  the  cooking  would  be  in  unpleasant  proxi- 
mity to  the  latter.  We  have  therefore  placed  it  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  hall,  though  but  a  few  steps  from  the 
living-room.  In  a  cottage  of  this  description,  the  master  and 
mistress  will  generally  prefer  to  have  their  own  bedroom  on 
the  first  floor,  and  we  have  accordingly  placed  it  opposite  the 
living-room. 

Although  this  cottage  is  of  very  moderate  size,  yet,  to  a 
family  of  small  means,  leading  a  comparatively  retired  life,  it 
will  afi'ord  a  great  deal  of  comfort,  and  even  a  considerable 
degree  of  taste  or  neatness.  The  parlor  or  living-room  is  com- 
paratively large  ;  its  outline  is  agreeably  varied  by  the  bay 
window  opposite  the  fire-place — and  the  closet  of  books  con- 
nected with  it,  indicating  a  certain  degree  of  mental  cultivaticm, 
may  very  fairly  stand  in  the  place  of  the  library  which  forms 
one  of  the  suite  of  apartments  in  a  larger  cottage  or  villa.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  pantry  opening  into  the  same  apartment 
renders  it   e(iually  eligible  and  convenient  as  a   dining-room. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


29 


However  large  our  dwelling-houses  may  be,  including  every 
grade  from  a  cottage  to  a  palace,  if  they  are  occupied  by  a 
family  of  moderate  size,  it  will  be  found  that  more  than  one 
room  is  seldom  used  at  a  time,  and  that  all  the  actual  comforts 
of  domestic  life  may  be  re'alized  in  a  cottage  of  this  class, 
containing  only  a  single  parlor  or  living-room,  as  well  as  in  a 
mansion  of  a  dozen  apartments.  "  I  must  confess,"  says  Cow- 
ley, "I  love  littleness  almost  in  all  things.  A  little  cheerful 
house,  a  little  company,  and  a  very  little  feast."  Whatever  is 
necessary  beyond  this,  arises  either  from  a  desire  to  enjoy  a 
more  luxurious  style  of  living,  or  from  the  wish  to  entertain  a 
larger  circle  of  friends.  Now  as  none  of  these  are  supposed 
to  come  within  the  wishes  or  means  of  the  inmates  of  a  cottage 
like  the  present,  its  accommodation  will  be  found  ample.  And 
supposing  one  or  two  of  the  attic  chambers  occupied  by 
younger  members  of  the  family,  and  another  by  a  domestic 
or  domestics,  there  will  still  remain  a  "  spare  room"  which 
we  shall  suppose  always  neat  and  clean,  ready  for  the  friend 
or  stranger  who  may  enjoy  the  cordial  welcome  of  the  cot- 
tage. 

In  building  this  cottage,  the  kitchen  should  be  provided 
with  a  brick  drain,  leading  from  the  sink  to  some  large  drain 
at  a  distance  from  the  house,  or,  in  case  this  is  impracticable, 
to  a  reservoir  dug  at  a  distance  of  thirty  or  fifty  feet  from 
the  house  in  a  gravelly  stratum,  where  the  drainage  may  lose 
itself  in  the  soil.  This  reservoir  may  be  of  the  size  of  a 
cistern  of  ordinary  capacity,  the  sides  built  up  w^ith  a  dry 
wall,  the  top  covered  by  flag  stones,  and  the  whole  finally 
covered  by  soil.  In  order  to  prevent  smells  arising  to  the 
kitchen  from  the  drain,  it  must  be  provided  with  a  smell-trap, 


•SO  roTTACK     RESIDENCES. 

which  is  easily  constructed.  If  the  water  from  the  well,  or 
cistern,  or  both,  is  introduced  by  a  leaden  pipe  and  small 
pump  into  a  corner  of  the  kitchen  over  the  sink,  it  will  add 
still  further  to  the  convenience  of  performing  the  culinary 
labor  of  the  dwelling. 

As  regards  external  elTect,  we  think  this  cottage  will  be 
allowed  to  be  very  pleasing  to  the  eye.  Aside  from  any 
other  {juality,  its  uniformity  will  be  a  source  of  satisfaction 
to  a  larger  class  of  j^ersons  wiio  do  not  relish  irregularity 
in  any  building.  There  are  also  several  features  entering 
into  the  composition  of  this  cottage,  which  give  it  at  once 
the  air  of  something  superior  in  design  to  ordinary  buildings 
of  the  same  class.  The  first  of  these  is  the  veranda,  orna- 
mented by  brackets  between  the  supports,  which  shelters  the 
entrance-door  and  aflbrds  an  agreeable  place  both  for  walking 
in  damp  or  unpleasant  weather,  and  to  enjoy  a  cool  shaded 
seat  in  the  hotter  portions  of  the  season.  The  second  feature 
is  the  projection  of  the  eaves,  with  the  ornamental  eave-board, 
which  serves  to  protect  the  exterior  more  completely  than 
any  other  form  against  the  effects  of  storms,  and  gives 
character  by  its  boldness  and  the  deep  shadows  it  casts  upon 
the  building.  The  chinmey  tops  are  rendered  sufficiently 
ornamental  to  accord  with  the  degree  of  decoration  displayed 
in  the  other  portions  of  the  cottage  ;  and  something  of  the 
bracketted  character  is  kept  up  in  the  dressings  of  the  window 
and  door-frames.  The  projecting  dormer-window  adds  beauty 
and  gives  importance  to  the  entrance  front. 

If  we  suppose  this  cottage,  stripped  of  its  projecting  eaves, 
its  bracketted  veranda,  its  dormer-window,  and  the  little 
decoration  visible  in  the  chimney  tops  and  other  details,  we 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


31 


shall  have  a  building  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram  of  the 
very  plainest  description.  Such  a  building  would  be  distin- 
guishable from  a  barn  or  outhouse  only  by  the  presence  of 
chimneys  and  windows  of  larger  size,  and  would  convey  to 
the  mind  no  impression  whatever  of  refinement  in  its  occupants. 
By  a  trifling  additional  outlay  at  the  time  of  building,  amount- 
ing to  from  7  to  10  per  cent,  on  the  whole  cost,  such  a  plain 
dwelling  may  be  made  the  ornamental  cottage  shown  in 
Design  I.,  which  we  think  would  strike  every  observer  as 
being  tasteful  and  agreeable  to  the  eye. 

Construction.  This  cottage,  being  light  and  somewhat 
fanciful  in  its  character,  may  be  built 
of  wood  filled  in  with  brick.  The 
roof  should  project  20  inches  or  2 
feet,  and  the  roof  of  the  veranda 
in  proportion.  A  portion  of  this 
veranda  is  shown  in  Fig.  6,  and  a 
section  of  the  pillars  or  supports  in 
Fig.  7.  z.  The  ornamental  cornice, 
which  surrounds  the  building,  is  shown  more 
in  detail  at  y ;  the  pendant  portion  being 
cut  out  of  inch  board,  and  the  points  ter- 
minated by  acorns  turned,  and  nailed  on. 
The  details  y  and  z,  are  to  the  scale  of 
one  half  of  an  inch  to  a  foot. 

Brick-and- cement  would  be  a  very  suitable  mode  of  con- 
struction for  this  cottage,  as  the  projecting  roof  would 
afford  perfect  security  for  the  dryness  and  preservation  of 
the  walls.  In  this  mode  of  building  the  roughest  bricks 
may  be  used,  and   are   really  preferable,  as  affording  a   bet- 


[Fig.  6.] 


[Fig.  7.] 


32  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

ter  surface  for  receiving  and  retaining  the  stucco  than 
smooth  ones.  In  many  districts,  where  bricks  are  easily 
obtained,  this  kind  of  buihling  will  be  found  as  cheap  as  wood. 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  this  design  and  the  seven 
others  that  follow,  we  have  placed  the  chimneys  in  the 
interior,  not  in  the  exterior  walls,  a  point  of  considerable 
importance,  which  is  greatly  overlooked  by  our  builders. 
When  a  stack  of  chimneys  is  built  in  the  outer  walls,  it 
seldom  continues  warm  during  the  whole  twenty-four  hours, 
as  it  parts  with  its  heat  rapidly  to  the  cold  external  air. 
Now  as  a  good  draught  dejjends,  in  a  great  degree,  on 
the  warmth  of  the  column  of  air,  and  this  upon  the  heat 
of  the  chimney,  it  is  evident  that  chimneys  in  the  interior 
of  a  house  must  draw  better  than  in  the  exterior  walls. 
Besides  this,  a  great  deal  of  heat  is  retained  in  the  body 
of  the  house  by  carrying  the  stacks  of  flues  through  it. 
And  in  point  of  external  effect,  it  is  much  more  pleasing 
to  see  the  chimney  tops  rising  from  tiie  apex,  or  highest 
part  of  the  roof,  than  from  its  lowest  edge. 

Estimate.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  cottage?,  finished 
in  a  neat  and  suitable  manner,  is  $1800.  This,  as  well  as 
the  estimates  which  follow,  is  intended  to  apply  to  the  ma- 
jority of  situations  iu  the  middle  and  eastern  states,  where 
timber  is  comparatively  scarce,  and  bricks  of  second  (piality 
suita))le  for  stuccoing  upon,  are  worth  about  $4  per  1000. 
In  districts  where  wood  is  much  cheaper,  the  cost  of 
erection  would  be  much  less  if  this  material  were  wholly 
employed. 

Laying    out    the    ground.       As   this   cottage   is   decidedly 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCE?. 


33 


34  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

ornamental  in  its  character,  it  may  fairly  be  presumed,  that 
it  would  be  required  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
limited  ground  nearest  the  house  should  be  rendered  orna- 
mental also.  In  the  suburbs  of  a  town  or  village,  the 
more  common  kinds  of  vegetables  may  generally  be  pur- 
chased as  cheaply  as  they  can  be  raised  by  the  inmates 
of  such  a  cottage.  The  more  delicate  kinds  of  fruit,  and 
a  few  of  the  earlier  or  finer  kinds  of  vegetables,  may  how- 
ever be  produced,  of  fine  flavor,  and  with  more  satisfaction 
to  the  proprietor,  on  the  spot.  We  have  therefore  devoted 
one  third  of  the  area  of  the  lot.  Fig.  8,  to  the  kitchen  gar- 
den a,  and  the  remaining  two-thirds  will  remain  to  be  occu- 
pied by  the  house,  and  for  ornamental  purposes.  In  order 
to  separate  these  two  portions,  and  to  prevent  the  eye  of 
a  person  looking  from  the  house,  or  any  of  the  walks 
across  the  little  lawn  b,  from  seeing  the  kitchen  garden  at 
the  same  time  with  the  ornamental  portion,  we  shall  place 
an  ornamental  trellis  across  the  lot  at  c,  which  may  be 
covered  by  the  following  vines,  remarkable  for  the  beauty 
of  their  foliage  and  flowers,  or  for  their  fragrance,  viz : 

2  Chinese  Twining  Honeysuckles,  blooming  in  June  and  October, 

a  Monthly  Fragrant            "  May  to  November. 

1  Yellow  Trumpet              "  May  to  November. 

1  Red            "                     "  May  to  November. 

1  Sweet  Scented  Clematis,  August. 

1  Virginian  Silk,  or  Pcriploca,  July. 

1  Chinese  Wistaria,  May. 

1  Climbing  Boursalt  Rose,  June. 

2  Double  Michigan  Roses,  May  to  December. 

These,  after  a    couple   of  years'  growth,  will    form  a  ver- 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  35 

(lant  barrier,  which  in  no  season,  except  winter,  will  be 
without  flowers.  Across  the  walks  leading  into  the  kitchen 
garden,  the  lattice  fence  may  be  continued  in  the  form  of 
light  gates,  and  the  vines  may  be  trained  so  as  to  form 
archways  overhead. 

Around  the  exterior  of  the  kitchen  garden  is  a  border 
6  feet  wide,  which  will  be  an  excellent  situation  for  a  few 
choice  fruit  trees ;  because,  if  planted  on  this  exterior  bor- 
der they  will  not  shade  the  beds  devoted  to  vegetables, 
which,  if  planted  in  the  middle  of  the  compartment,  they 
would  soon  do  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  the  situ- 
ation unfit  for  raising  a  crop  of  any  kind.  On  the  right 
hand  border,  which  is  the  warmest  aspect,  we  would  advise 
the  planting  of  some  grape  vines,  which  may  either  be 
trained  to  the  fence,  or  to  a  trellis  placed  four  or  five 
inches  from  the  fence.  These  vines  may  consist  of  a  Ca- 
taw^ba,  an  Isabella,  an  Elsingburgh,  and  a  Bland's  Virginia, 
all  hardy  varieties,  very  productive,  and  requiring  little 
care.  On  the  other  two  outer  borders,  there  will  be  suffi- 
cient room  for  one  tree  of  each  of  the  following  fruits, 
viz.  a  Bartlett,  a  Seckel,  and  a  D'Aremberg  Pear ;  a 
George  the  Fourth,  and  a  Malta  Peach ;  an  Imperial  Gage 
and  a  Golden  Drop  Plum  ;  a  Mayduke,  and  a  Downer's 
Late  Red  Cherry  ;  and  a  Moorpark  Apricot.  In  the  same 
borders,  and  beneath  these  fruit  trees,  strawberries  may  be 
planted,  making  a  bed  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
long,  which,  if  kept  in  good  condition,  will  be  sufficient  to 
supply  a  small  family  with  this  delicious  fruit.  The  border 
to  the  right,  containing  the  grape  vines,  we  shall  suppose 
(except  immediately  around  the  vine)  to  be  kept  in  grass,  in 


36  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

which  neat  posts  are  set  at  a  distance  of  twelve  feet  apart, 
for  the  purpose  of  stretching  a  Hne  for  drying  clothes  u\)ou. 
These  posts  being  half  way  between  the  frame  or  trellis, 
upon  which  the  grapes  are  trained,  and  the  walk,  the  line 
would  be  easily  commanded  by  a  person  standing  upon  the 
walk.  The  space  devoted  to  culinary  vegetables,  we  have 
merely  indicated  by  beds  four  feet  wide  on  the  plan,  leav- 
ing the  occupant  to  apportion  the  same  to  their  various 
uses,  premising  that  the  large  bed  in  the  centre,  at  a,  is 
intended  for  asparagus  ;  the  three  smaller  ones,  d,  for  sweet 
herbs;  and  the  long  bed,  x,  behind  the  trellis,  covered  by 
ornamental  vines,  for  the  esculent  rhubarb,  which  is  so  valu- 
able an  article  for  tarts  or  pies,  that  no  cottage  garden, 
however  small,  should  be  without  it. 

Such  a  thing  as  a  wall  for  fruit  trees,  in  a  cottage  garden, 
is  nearly  unknown  in  the  United  States,  and  therefore  we 
need  say  nothing  respecting  training  them  to  a  wall.  But 
a  cottage  garden  is  usually  surrounded  by  a  neat  board 
fence  or  paling,  painted  some  dark  or  inconspicuous  color, 
and  as  the  number  of  fruit  trees  that  could  be  judiciously 
planted  here,  is  small,  we  would  strongly  advise  the  owner 
of  this  garden  to  train  the  branches  to  this  fence,  or  to 
a  trellis  formed  by  nailing  narrow  strips  of  board,  trellis- 
like, at  a  distance  of  four  or  five  inches  from  the  fence. 
The  luxuriance  and  fruitfulness  of  trees  planted  as  ordi- 
nary standards,  in  most  parts  of  the  country,  is  the  very 
obvious  reason  why,  except  in  gardens  of  the  first  class, 
a  trained  tree  is  so  rarely  seen  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  superior  size  and  beauty  of  the  fruit  raised  in  this 
way,   make   it   an   object   of  considerable   importance,   when 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES,  37 

the  number  of  trees  is  small.  Besides  ihis,  the  trees  oc- 
cupy so  much  less  space,  interfere  so  little  with  the  growth 
of  anything  else  that  may  be  near  or  under  them,  and 
are  so  much  more  completely  under  the  control  of  the 
gardener,  that  we  are  certain  they  would,  if  trained,  afford 
ten  times  the  satisfaction  at  all  times,  beyond  that  derived 
from  standard  trees,  cultivated,  or,  rather,  left  to  grow,  in 
the   usual   manner. 

Proceeding  now  to  the  ornamental  portion  of  the  ground, 
we  shall  suppose  the  outer  border,  e,  to  be  planted  with  a 
small  mixed  collection  of  handsome  trees  and  shrubs,  of 
such  varieties  as  may  be  easily  and  cheaply  procured. 
The  trees  may  be  planted  at  considerable  distances,  as  a 
very  few,  when  they  have  attained  some  size,  will  be  suf- 
ficient for  this  limited  surface.  In  the  intermediate  spaces, 
room  will  be  found  for  quite  a  variety  of  shrubs,  interspersed 
with  several  sorts  of  hardy  roses.  In  the  centre  of  each 
of  the  two  small  circles  fronting  the  house,  we  will 
place  a  Balsam,  or  Balm  of  Gilead  fir,  one  of  the  finest  ever- 
greens in  this  climate,  as  it  preserves  its  rich  green  verdure 
unimpaired  throughout  the  coldest  winter.  These  firs,  with 
two  or  three  additional  evergreens  in  the  swell  of  the  front 
border,  will  give  a  cheerful  aspect  to  the  entrance  front  of  the 
cottage,  during  the  winter  months. 

The  border  marked  /,  in  the  plan,  that  directly  surrounds 
the  building,  should  be  laid  down  in  turf,  which,  if  kept  short, 
will  be  much  more  pleasing  and  satisfactory  than  if  kept  in 
a  raw  state  by  cultivation — partly  from  the  greater  appearance 
of  permanence  in  a  turf  border,  and  partly  from  its  greater 
neatness  at  all   seasons.     In  this  turf  border  may  be  planted 


38  COTTAGE     RESIDENCE?. 

a  lew  choice  shrubs,  or  roses,  selecting  such  as  are  remarkable 
for  beauty  of  leaf  and  flower,  or  for  their  fragrance ;  as  from 
their  nearness  to  the  windows,  the  latter  may  be  enjoyed  in 
the  summer,  while  the  windows  are  open,  through  the  whole 
house.  There  are  about  a  dozen  of  these  shrubs  indicated  on 
the  plan  which  we  shall  suppose  to  be  the  following,  viz  : 

Blooms  ia 

2  Pink  Mezereon  {Daphne  Mezereum),  March. 

2  Sweet  Scented  Shrub  (Calycanlhusjlorida),  June. 

2  Champney  Cluster  Rose  (Rosa  Champneijana),  May  to  Nov. 

2  Fra^nt  Clethra  (Clethra  alnifolia),  August. 

2  Purple  Magnolia  {Magnolia  vbovala),  April. 

2  Missouri  Currant  (Ribes  aureum),  April. 

These  are  all  deliciously  fragrant  when  in  flower,  and  some 
of  the  number  will  be  in  bloom  during  the  whole  growing 
season. 

Quite  an  area  /;,  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  is  devoted  to  a 
lawn,  which  must  be  kept  close  and  green  by  frequent  mow- 
ings, so  that  it  will  be  as  soft  to  the  tread  as  a  carpet,  and  that 
its  deep  verdure  will  set  off"  the  gay  colors  of  the  flowering 
plants  in  the  surrounding  beds  and  parterre.  This  little  lawn 
is  terminated  by  an  irregular  or  arahesqiie  border  g,  varying  in 
width  from  four  to  fourteen  feet.  Tiic  irregular  form  of  this 
border  is  ])referable  to  a  regular  one  on  account  of  its  more 
agreeable  outline,  and  more  especially  for  the  reason  that,  to  a 
person  looking  across  the  lawn  from  any  part  of  the  walk  near 
the  house,  this  variety  of  form  in  the  boundary  increases  the 
apparent  size  of  the  area  of  turf  which  it  encloses.  To  give 
still  further  variety  and  eflfect,  we  have  introduced  also  the 
two  small  beds,  h  and  /,  cut  in  the  turf;  the   former  of  which 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  39 

may  be  planted  with  montlily  roses  of  any  free-blooming 
sorts,  and  the  latter  may  be  filled  with  mignonette  by  sowing 
the  seeds  annually  in  April.  The  monthly  roses  will  be 
covered  with  bloom  all  the  season,  and  will  stand  the  winter 
perfectly  well  in  the  open  air  anywhere  south  of  Albany 
with  the  trifling  care  of  throwing  a  little  straw,  or  litter, 
over  them  at  the  approach  of  winter,  to'  protect  them  against 
the  changes  of  temperature. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  kitchen  garden  is  kept  out 
of  view  to  a  person  standing  at  b,  by  the  trellised  screen  c, 
covered  with  a  luxuriant  wreath  of  honeysuckles  and  other 
climbing  plants,  six  or  eight  feet  in  height.  We  shall  next 
suppose  the  arabesque  border  g,  devoted  to  a  miscellaneous 
collection  of  perennial  flowering  plants,  or  herbaceous  plants, 
as  they  are  generally  termed,  arranging  them  so  that  those 
of  a  few  inches  in  height  shall  be  near  the  front  margin  of 
the  border,  those  of  a  larger  size  next,  and  so  gradually 
increasing  in  size  imtil  the  largest  growing  ones,  perhaps 
three  feet  in  height,  shall  be  at  the  back  of  the  border  and 
furthest  from  the  eye.  It  is  not  necessary  to  have  costly 
varieties  of  plants,  or  a  large  collection,  to  render  this 
border  a  handsome  object  to  look  upon,  but  on  the  contrary 
a  few  well  selected  species,  which  may  be  procured  for  a 
trifling  sum  from  a  nursery,  or  the  greater  part  of  which 
may  be  had  from  the  garden  of  some  neighboring  amateur, 
will  serve  to  render  this  border  rich  and  beautiful,  in  leaf 
and  blossom,  all  the  season.  In  the  description  of  Design 
v.,  we  shall  give  a  list  of  the  most  ornamental  varieties 
of  border  perennials,  from  which  the  reader  may  choose 
for   this  or   any   other   garden.      If,   however,   the    occupant 


•!(•  COTTAGE     REJ!|DE\rE!?. 

of  this  cottage  should  desire  to  be  at  little  or  no  cost  for 
border  flowers,  and  still  should  wish  to  produce  a  considerable 
effect,  it  hiay  be  done  by  plantiiiL'  the  bed  with  masses  of 
the  followincr  showy  perennials — 

Double  red  Ragged  Robin      (Lynchis  Jlos-cuculi) . 

Orange  Chelone  {Chelone  barbata). 

Chinese  Pinks  (Dianthtis  sinensis). 

Bee  Larkspur  {Delphinium  elatum). 

White  Lily  (Lilium  candidum). 

Japan  White  Lily  (Hemeroallis  jajjonica). 

Early  White  Phlox  (Phlox  suaceolens). 

Late  Purple  Phlox  {Phlox  auiumnalis). 

Fragrant  Blue  Violet  {Viola  odorala). 

Blue  Omphalodes  {Omphalodes  verna). 
Chinese  White  and  Rose 

Poeonias  {Pceonia  uhitUjii  andfragrans). 

Hearts-ease  or  Pansy  {Viola  tricolor). 

(^r,  as  a  few  seeds  of  ornamental  annuals  are  easily  and 
cheaply  procured  at  the  seed  shops,  the  variety  may  be 
increased  by  sowing  the  seeds  of  twenty  or  thirty  species 
of  the  latter,  in  the  spaces  that  would  be  left  between  the 
masses  of  herbaceous  plants,  taking  care  to  arrange  them 
with  regard  to  height,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  perennials, 
as  otherwise  the  taller  plants  near  the  eye  would  hide 
the  smaller  and  more  delicate  ones  at  the  back  of  the 
border. 

We  trust  the  reader  who  has  followed  us  in  our  description, 
will  acknowledge  that  this  cottage,  with  its  moderate  accom- 
modations and  small  lot  of  ground,  may  be  made  productive 
of  a   considerable  degree  of  interest  and*  beauty,  as  well  as 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  41 

comfort  and  enjoyment.  There  is  nothing  in  the  plan  of 
the  house  or  garden,  that  may  not  he  reahzed  by  a  family 
living  upon  a  very  small  income,  provided  the  members  of 
the  family  are  persons  of  some  taste  and  refinement,,  who 
appreciate  the  value  and  pleasure  of  such  a  residence,  suffi- 
ciently to  take  a  strong  personal  interest  in  it.  The  master 
of  the  premises  we  shall  suppose  capable  of  managing  the 
kitchen  garden,  the  fruit  trees,  the  grass,  and  the  whole  of 
the  walks,  himself,  with  perhaps  the  assistance  of  a  common 
gardener,  or  laboring  man,  for  a  day  or  two,  at  certain  seasons 
of  the  year.  The  mistress  and  her  daughter,  or  daughters, 
we  shall  suppose  to  have  sufficient  fondness  for  flowers,  to 
be  willing  and  glad  to  spend  three  times  a  week,  an  hour 
or  two,  in  the  cool  mornings  and  evenings  of  summer,  in  the 
pleasing  task  of  planting,  tying  to  neat  stakes,  picking  off 
decayed  flowers,  and  removing  weeds  from  the  borders,  and 
all  other  operations  that  so  limited  a  garden  may  require. 

A  love  for  these  floral  occupations,  so  simple  and  so  natural, 
that  in  all  times  and  countries  they  have  been  the  delight  of 
the  highest,  as  well  as  the  lowest,  insensibly  strengthens  upon 
us  as  we  become  interested  in  the  growth  of  plants  and  the 
development  of  the  varied  forms  of  beauty  and  grace  with 
which  every  leaf,  tendril,  and  blossom  is  replete ;  and  the 
exercise  involved  in  the  pursuit,  thus  soon  becomes,  also,  a 
source  of  pleasure  and  mental  satisfaction,  and  is  not,  as  in 
many  other  cases,  an  irksome  duty  performed  for  the  pre- 
servation of  bodily  health. 


42  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN   II. 
A  cottage  in  the  English,  or  Rural  Gothic  Style. 

The  object  in  view  in  designing  tiiis  cottage,  is  internal 
convenience.  Tliere  are  many  families  mainly  composed 
of  invalids,  or  persons  advanced  in  years,  who  have  a 
strong  preference  for  a  plan  in  which  the  kitchen,  and  at 
least  one  bedroom,  are  upon  the  same  floor  with  the  liv- 
ing-rooms, and  in  which  there  is  little  or  no  necessity  for 
ascending  or  descending  stairs ;  an  exercise  which,  thougii 
of  little  consequence  to  the  young  and  robust,  is  of  all 
others  the  most  fatiguing  to  the  infirm,  or  those  in  deli- 
cate  health. 

A  glance  at  the  plan  of  the  first  floor  opposite.  Fig. 
10,  will  show  how  we  propose  to  realize  this  kind  of  ac- 
commodation in  this  dwelling.  The  kitchen  is  a  wing, 
added  in  the  rear,  of  one  story  in  height.  The  situation 
on  which  this  dwelling  is  placed,  has  a  prospect  in  one 
direction  only,  and  the  front,  shown  in  the  elevation,  com- 
mands this  view,  the  rear  being  nearly  hidden  by  trees. 
On  this  front  are  situated  two  pleasant  apartments,  each 
17  by  20  feet,  opening  from  the  vestibule  or  entrance  hall, 
by  large  double  doors,  which,  when  fully  opened,  will 
throw  these  two  rooms  and  the  vestibule  into  one  large 
apartment.      Some   elegance   is   conferred  on   the    parlor   by 


A   rO'ITAGK  IM  THE   E^rOLISn.   OR  ilUKAL  (.lOTHIC  STTLK, 


IMS-    0- 


ig    10. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  43 

the  bay  window,  after  the  old  English  mode,  projecting 
on  the  right  side,  which  is  balanced  by  a  double  window 
opposite  in  the  dining  room.  We  would  recommend  the 
employment  of  a  few  large  window^s  in  the  principal  apart- 
ments, as  there  is  an  appearance  of  pettiness,  and  a  want 
of  breadth,  in  rooms  full  of  little  windows,  which  is  so 
common  a  feature  in  our  country  houses.  It  is  always 
preferable,  also,  to  light  a  room  from  two  sides  only, 
rather  than  three,  as  nothing  is  more  unfavorable  to  the 
effect  of  interiors,  than  cross  lights  i)roceeding  from  every 
direction. 

The  living-room,  or  library,  commands  a  pantry  of  con- 
venient size,  in  the  rear  of  which  is  a  closet  opening  into 
the  hall.  This  hall  is  of  ample  size  to  serve  as  a  dining- 
room,  and  this  disposition  would  doubtless  be  preferred 
during  at  least  part  of  the  year,  as  it  would  leave  the 
apartment  on  the  left  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  a  library. 
To  make  an  entrance  hall  a  dining  apartment,  is  a  very 
objectionable,  though  not  unusual  mode  ;  as  visitors,  chanc- 
ing to  call  at  the  dinner  hour,  cannot  be  shown  into  the 
parlor  without  passing  the  table,  and  perhaps  discomposing 
the  whole  family.  But  in  the  present  case,  the  door  being 
closed  between  the  entrance  or  vestibule  and  the  dining 
hall,  the  table  a,  and  persons  seated  about  it,  w^ould  be 
completely  private.  There  is  a  glazed  back  door  opening 
to  the  rear  of  the  house,  near  the  left  angle  of  this  hall, 
and  a  door  opening  into  the  kitchen  passage  h,  on  the  right, 
and  the  hall  also  receives  light  from  the  window  over 
this  door,  in  the  second  story.  This  passage  is  formed  by 
running  a  solid   partition   across  the  kitchen   building,  so   as 


44 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


to  adinit  of  two  doors,  in  order  to  prevent  smells  ;  one, 
an  ordinary  door  opening  into  the  hall,  and  the  other  a 
fly  or  spring-door,  opening  into  the  kitchen.  This  partition 
also  gives  room  for  the  introduction  of  two  convenient 
closets,  one  for  the  kitchen,  and  another  for  the  bedroom. 
In   the   plan   of  the   second  floor.   Fig.    11,   we   have   two 


1  CLOSET  J\V\ 

1                 1 

1 ■ 

^    6X10        1 

r 

1            14  A    i;            « 

BED      ROOM 

.   3  ml   - 

fU  ■ 

m       lED  ROOM  10X17 

1 

.7X« 

1         BED    RV    U>Xt7 

1 

.J 

HiA-t— §■■■ 

SECON  D 

FLOOR 

[Fig.  11.] 

large  and  two  small  bedrooms.  There  is  a  dressing-room 
and  closet  communicating  w'ith  the  small  bedroom  on  the 
left,  and  a  closet  for  linen  opening  into  the  hall.  The 
cellar  plan  is  not  given,  as  this  would  be  very  simple, 
and  would  probably  not  be  required  larger  than  the  main 
building.  Access  would  be  had  to  it  by  steps  going 
down  under  the  stone  platform  of  the  stooji  on  which 
the  hall,  back  door,  and  the  kitchen  door  open;  and  by 
stairs  descending  under  the  ascending  staircase  in  the  hall. 
Tlie   elevation   of   this   cottage   is   in  the    English   cottage 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  45 

Style,   so  generally  admired  for   the  picturesqueness  evinced 

m   its   tall    gables    ornamented   by   iiandsome    verge    boards 

and    finials,   its   neat   or    flmciful    chimney   tops,   its    latticed 

windows,    and    other    striking    features,    showing    how    the 

genius  of  pointed  or   Gothic  architecture  may  be  chastened 

or   moulded  into  forms  for  domestic  habitations.     The   steep 

roofs  are   highly  suitable  for  a  cold  country  liable  to  heavy 

snows.      A   very   pleasing   mode   of   covering    roofs   of   this 

kind  is  shown   in   the   elevation,  and   the  effect   is  produced 

by   procuring    the   shingles   of    equal    size,   and    cutting    the 

lower   ends   before   laying    them   on,   in   a   semi-hexagon,   or 

semi-octagon  shape,  so   that  when  laid  upon  the   roof,  these 

figures  will  be  regularly  produced. 

The   English    cottage    style   will   admit    of   great    irregu- 
larity  and   picturesqueness   of  outline,   and   is   productive   of 
beautiful  effects  when   the  composition  forms   a  large   group 
of  building.       In   the   present   example    we    have   only   been 
able    to    show    one    of    the    simplest   of   its    forms,    which, 
however,   is   not    destitute   of   expression   of   style.       In   the 
English   examples,   a   veranda   is   rarely  seen,  as   the   damp- 
ness  of  their   climate   renders    such   an   appendage    scarcely 
necessary.     But  its  great  utility  in  our   hot  summers  makes 
it   indispensable    to   every   house,   and   we    have    introduced 
it    on    the    entrance    front,    as    affording    in    this    position 
shelter,   prospect,   and  an   agreeable   promenade.       Over   the 
porch   is  a  pleasant  balcony  for  the  pointed   window  in  the 
gable.     As  the   spirit   of  Gothic  architecture   lies  in  vertical 
lines,   a   long    unbroken    horizontal    line    of   veranda    would 
destroy,  or   mar  the   architectural   character  of  the   cottage. 
We  have,  therefore,  made   the  veranda  two  or   three   feet 


46  COTTAGE     KESIDENCE9. 

shorter  at  each  ciul  tlian  the  front,  and  have  further  broken 
the  horizontal  hne,  by  the  porch-balcony,  to  the  wmdow 
in  the  front  gable. 

One  of  the  most  characteristic  and  beautiful  features  in 
rural  Gothic  architecture,  is  the  ornamental  chimney  shaft, 
sometimes  rising  singly,  sometimes  in  clusters  from  the  roof; 
often  plain  and  square,  or  octagonal,  but  frequently  wreath- 
ed and  moulded  in  the  most  picturesque  manner.  The 
finest  specimens  of  the  old  English  chimneys  are  built  of 
bricks,  cast  in  moulds  for  the  purpose,  or  stamped  with 
ornaments.  These  bricks  are  now  so  highly  taxed  in  Eng- 
land as  to  render  them  as  expensive  as  cut  stone,  but  they 
may  be  made  very  cheaply  here.*  We  have  built  neat 
chimney  shafts  in  an  octagonal  form  of  common  bricks  by 
cutting  them  with  a  trowel  in  the  desired  form,  and  rubbing 
the  faces  smooth  on  a  hard  sand-stone,  before  laying  them, 
but  this  is  more  expensive  than  to  employ  bricks  ready 
moulded  for  the  purpose.  Chimney  tops  of  artificial  stone 
in  handsome  forms  may  also  be  had  of  Gibson,  and  other 
manufacturers,  New  York,  but  they  will  seldom  stand  our 
trying  climate  at  the  north. 

Construction.  This  cottage  should  be  built  of  brick  and 
cement,  colored  in  imitation  of  Bath  or  Portland  stone ; 
or  of  smooth  brick,  colored  after  some  of  the  soft  neutral 
tints    described    in   a   former    page  ;    or    of   quarried   stone. 

*We  trust  that  by  the  time  this  volume  is  out  of  press,  gome  of  our 
brickmakers  will  be  able  to  offer  moulded  bricks  of  a  variety  of  patterns, 
as  the   demand    for  such   is   every  day   increasing. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


47 


The  window  frames,  the  porch  and  veranda,  and  tJie  verge 
board,  may  be  made  of  good  seasoned  wood,  painted  the 
same     color    as   the   walls    and    sanded  ;    or    they   may   be 


grained    in  imitation  of  oak. 


Real 


oak  would  be  preferable  where  eco- 
nomy is  not  an  object.  The  label 
or  drip-stones  to  the  window  may 
be  made  of  moulded  brick,  or  cut 
free-stone  after  Fig.  25,  of  the  next 
design.  These  windows  are  lattic- 
ed casement  windows,  the  plan  and 
section  of  which  are  shown  in  Fig. 
12. 


[Fig.  12.J 


[Fig.   13.] 


In  the  gable.  Fig.  13,  the 
roof  or  cornice  of  which  should 
project  at  least  twenty  inches 
over  the  wall,  is  shown  a  spe- 
cimen of  feathered  tracery 
from  one  of  the  best  examples, 
with  its  pinnacle  and  pendant. 
This  may  be  cut  out  of  thick 
plank,*  and  if  thought  too 
elaborate,  may  be  simplified 
by  omitting  the  minor  details. 
If  well  executed  it  will  have 
a  rich  effect. 


The   porch   and   veranda   is  shown   in   detail  in   Fig.    14 ; 


•  Never  (as  is  sometimes  done  by  ignorant  carpenters)  out  of  inch  boards. 


48 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


the  detached  portion  on  the  right  showing  a  part  of  the 
veranda  cornice,  and  that  on  the  left  a  portion  of  the  clus- 
tered column.  (The  sections  of  which  are  seen  at  the  loiver 
ends  of  the  drawing.) 


'  '  I  '  '  '  ' 


[I'ig.  H.J 


Fig  15  shows  a  ))air  ol  chinniey  shafts  in 
the  old  English  style,  which  may  he  had  in 
artificial  stone,  at  Gihson's,  New  Yt>rk.  A 
great  variety  of  forms  are  frequently  collected 
together  in  the  same  stack. 

The  shutters  should  he  inside  hox  shutters. 
or  shuttor-hlinds,  painted  and  grained  in  imita- 
tion of  oak. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  cottage  in  hrick- 
and-stucco  (hricks  at  $1)  would   he  S  IHOO. 


Fig.  i:..l 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  49 


LAYING    OUT    THE    GARDEN    OF    DESIGN    II. 

The  situation  where  it  is  proposed  to  build  this  cottage,  is 
about  a  mile  from  a  country  town,  and  the  area  of  surface 
for  the  whole  purpose  is  about  an  acre  and  a  fourth.  This 
lot  of  ground  is  bounded  by  a  street  both  in  the  front  and 
rear.  The  entrance  is  at  a ;  the  dwelling  at  h ;  the  stable  at 
c.  One  half  of  the  whole  surface,  viz.  that  portion  represented 
by  right  lined  plots  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  is  devoted  to  a 
garden  for  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  the  whole  remaining 
portion,  comprising  the  space  in  front  and  at  the  sides  of  the 
house,  is  laid  out  as  a  lawn,  shrubbery,  and  flower  garden, 
in  the  picturesque  manner.  The  carriage  road,  leading  to 
the  front  door  and  to  the  stable,  is  shown  at  d ;  e,  designates 
irregular  beds  cut  in  the  turf,  and  stocked  with  annuals  and 
perennial  flowers ;  /,  a  thick  shrubbery  belt,  composed  of 
syringes,  mountain  ashes,  and  lilacs,  interspersed  with  the 
balsam  fir,  and  arbor  vitae,  to  give  a  cheerful  appearance  in 
winter.  In  the  rear  of  the  kitchen  are  planted  two  or  three 
hemlocks  and  larches.  Two  plots  of  grass,  for  bleaching  and 
drying  clothes,  are  shown  at  g. 

In    the   ornamental    garden    before    the    house,   the   whole 

surface,   excepting   the   walks,  and   the  flower    beds  e,  is   to 

be  laid  down  in  turf,  and  kept  neatly  mown.     This  turf  will 

give  an  appearance  of  much  greater  extent  to  the  area  than 

it  could    possibly   have   by  any  other   arrangement,   while  it 

will  be  more  agreeable  to  the  eye   through   the  whole  year, 

than  any    extensive    disposition   of  parterre,  or  flower    beds, 

directly  under  the  eye.      A  fresh  verdant  lawn,  varied   only 

by  walks  and  green  trees,  is  a  delightful  object  at  all  seasons.. 
4 


50 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


m 


LMi' II  ;i  ;>o-UJil 


"''K^ 


\444t4M4^^ht4i  tm^mEJ 


!'l:T'':h'lr'!'lirjl''lM|!'l> 


i;i;'i;!i! 


12^ 


liiP 

k 


u 


iiiiiii 


o'o'o 


z:  '"^ 


91:' 
OX 


lll'i! 


[Fig.  IC] 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES."  51 

and  more  especially  in  the  middle  of  summer  ;  while  at  the 
latter  period  flower  beds  have  frequently  a  dry  and  parched 
appearance,  but  poorly  compensated  for  by  the  brilliancy  of 
a  few  plants  in  bloom,  which  scarcely  hide  the  surface. 

The  spiry  topped  trees  shown  in  these  plots,  are  chiefly 
the  European  Larch  and  the  Balsam  Fir,  with  one  or  two 
White  Pines,  all  of  which  harmonize  well  with  the  architecture 
of  the  cottage.  Among  the  round-headed  trees  we  will  only 
particularize  the  Osage  Orange  {Madura  aurantiaca),  the 
Umbrella  Magnolia  {M.  tripetald),  the  Weeping  Ash  {Frax- 
inus  excelsior,  pendula),  and  the  Kentucky  Coffee  {Gymnocla- 
dus  Canadensis).  Among  the  shritbs  forming  little  thickets 
along  the  walks,  we  would  introduce  the  Mezereon  and  the 
Cornelian  Cherry,  the  pink  and  yellow  flowers  of  which 
appear  in  March;  the  scarlet  and  blush  Japan  Quince 
{Cydonia  Japonica),  the  pink  and  double  white  Hawthorns, 
and  the  purple  and  white  fruited  Strawberry  Trees  {Enony- 
mus  europeus). 

The  walks  should  all  be  well  gravelled  ;  the  carriage  road 
being  first  excavated  twelve  inches  deep,  and  one  half  the 
depth  on  the  bottom  filled  with  small  stones,  in  order  to  have 
it  dry  and  firm  at  all  seasons. 

In  the  kitchen  garden,  the  borders  on  the  sides  of  the 
central  walk  h,  are  occupied  by  two  rows  of  currants  and 
gooseberries.  The  currants  are  the  Large  White  and  Red 
Dutch,  and  the  Naples,  or  Black  English.  The  gooseberries 
are  half  a  dozen  of  the  best  English  sorts.  Both  currants 
and  gooseberries  must  be  kept  well  trimmed  and  thinned,  to 
admit  the  air  freely  to  every  part  of  the  plant,  and  the 
borders  should  be  annually  manured,  as  they  require  a  rich 


52  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

soil  to  produce  large  fruit.  On  one  side  of  the  cross  walk  i. 
is  a  border  devoted  to  raspberries,  and  planted  with  the  large 
Red  Antwerp,  and  the  White  Antwerp,  in  equal  quantities. 

Within  the  boundary  fence  of  that  half  of  the  area  com- 
prising the  kitchen  garden,  is  a  border,  fourteen  feet  wide  on 
the  sides,  and  twice  that  width  on  the  rear,  devoted  to  a 
small  number  of  choice  fruits.  The  walk  j,  is  covered  by  an 
arbor  for  grapes,  and  may  contain,  besides  the  native  sorts, 
Catawba,  Isabella,  etc.,  a  few  vines  of  the  Royal  Muscadine, 
Sweet  Water,  and  Black  Hamburgh,  which  are  among  the 
hardiest  and  most  productive  of  the  foreign  varieties.  Nearly 
all  the  foreign  grapes  require  much  care  to  be  raised  in  the 
open  air.  For  a  year  or  two  after  they  come  into  bearing, 
the  crops,  it  is  generally  remarked,  are  good,  and  the  fruit 
fair ;  but  in  a  few  seasons  more,  the  mildew  attacks  the 
fruit,  and  frequently  destroys  every  bunch,  or  renders  it 
worthless.  The  most  successful  practice  for  out-of-door  culture, 
appears  to  consist  in  laying  down  some  of  the  long  thrifty 
shoots  each  season,  so  as  to  have  every  year,  or  every  other 
year,  a  succession  of  new  roots — destroying  those  that  have 
borne  two  good  crops,  and  allowing  the  young  rooted  plants 
to  take  their  place.  Lime  and  marl  are  excellent  manures 
for  the  grape- 


DESIGN  111. 
A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  POINTED.  OH  'ITTDOR  STYLB. 


'^ 


■^"i^^^f^^t^ 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCB8.  53 


DESIGN    III. 
A  cottage  in  the  Pointed,  or  Tudor  Style. 

This  edifice  is  designed  for  a  situation  on  the  bank  of  one 
of  our  boldest  rivers.  From  its  site,  the  eye  wanders  over 
a  richly  cultivated  country,  dotted  and  sprinkled  with  luxuriant 
groups  of  wood ;  the  wide  lake-like  expanse  of  water,  the 
sails  floating  lazily  on  its  bosom,  the  tufted  fringes  of  trees 
and  shrubs  in  the  foreground,  and  the  distant  hazy  summits 
(if  blue  in  the  horizon,  are  all  fascinating  elements  of  the 
beautiful,  which  make  up  the  view  from  the  point  of  its 
location.  As  in  many  of  our  finest  natural  situations  for 
residences,  nature  has  done  so  much  here  to  render  the  scene 
lovely,  that  it  would  appear  that  man  had  only  to  borrow  a 
few  hints  from  the  genius  of  the  place,  and  the  home  features 
would  all  be  rendered  equally  delightful.  But  how  frequently 
do  we  see  those  who  seem  incapable  of  reading  the  wide 
and  ever  eloquent  book  of  natural  beauty,  deforming  its  fair 
pages,  written  in  lines  of  grace  and  softness,  by  rigid  lines, 
and  hard  mathematical  angles,  only  too  plainly  indicative 
of  the  most  primitive  and  uncultivated  perceptions.  Let  us 
hope,  by  studying  the  character  of  the  whole  scene,  to  succeed 
better  in  improving  a  very  small  portion  of  it. 

The  arrangement  of  the  cottage  we  propose  for  this  place, 
differs  from  the  previous  ones,  in  having  the  principal  floor 


54  COTTAGE     RESIDEN'CES. 

devoted  almost  entirely  to  pleasant  apartments  ;  the  kitchen 
being  below,  and  the  bedrooms  above  stairs.  This  renders 
the  whole  air  of  the  house  somewhat  elegant.  A  cottage 
like  this,  although  of  moderate  size,  in  the  hands  of  a  family 
of  taste,  may  be  made  to  produce  a  beautiful  effect.  While, 
it  is  true,  that 

"  Here  no  state  cliambcrs  in  long  line  unfold, 

Uright  with  broad  mirrors,  rough  with  fretted  gold. 
Yet,  modest  ornament  with  use  combined, 
Attracts  the  eye  to  exercise  the  mind." 

And  while  there  are  no  superfluous  and  luxurious  apartments, 
nor  anything  requiring  the  attendance  of  a  retinue  of  servants, 
there  is  much  here,  compactly  arranged,  to  render  a  home 
pleasant  and  attractive.  The  neat  and  spacious  parlor,  18 
by  20  feet  (see  Fig.  18),  is  varied  in  its  outline  by  an  old 
English  bay-window,  one  of  those  pleasant  nooks,  which, 
says  Lord  Bacon,  "  be  pretty  retiring  places  for  conference," 
and  has  also  windows  opening  quite  to  the  floor  of  tlie  veranda, 
and  letting  in  a  full  expanse  of  the  bright  green  lawn,  and 
tufts  of  rich  foliage  that  border  it.  This  room  would  afford 
some  scope  for  the  "  faire  ladye  "  to  exercise  her  taste  in  a 
simple,  elegant,  and  harmonious  style  of  fitting  and  furnishing  ; 
iinf  j)y  bringing  I'roni  the  shops  the  latest  and  most  fashionable 
patterns  of  city  chairs  and  tables,  carpets  and  sofas, — which, 
we  are  sorry  to  say,  are  in  most  cases  destitute  of  all  appro- 
priateness, and  in  many,  of  all  intrinsic  grace  and  beauty, — 
but  by  selecting  articles  recommended  by  fitness  in  design. 
in  order  that  they  may  b(>  in  harmony  with  the  character  of 
the   house,   and    l)V   their  tastelul    and    comfortable   character. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  55 

that  they  may  suit  tlie  more  simple  and  unostentatious  habits 
of  country  life. 

The  dining-room  is  of  equal  size  with  the  drawing-room, 
and  as  the  family  who  are  to  occupy  this  cottage  villa,  live 
in  a  pleasant  and  social  neighborhood,  and  are  in  the  habit, 
occasionally,  of  entertaining  a  little  party  of  their  friends, 
they  thought  it  desirable  to  make  these  rooms  communicate 
by  sliding  doors,  in  order  that  they  may,  on  such  occasions, 
be  thrown  into  one.  The  rooms  will  then  have  a  handsome 
effect,  as  the  bay  window  at  the  end  of  the  parlor  is  ba- 
lanced by  a  wide  mullioned  window  at  the  end  of  the  dining- 
room  opposite,  and  the  w^hole  space  between  them  is  forty 
feet.  For  the  convenience  of  the  menage,  we  have  located 
a  neat  pantry  directly  in  contact  wdth  the  dining-room,  and 
opening  out  of  it,  so  that  the  china  and  plate,  or  the  little 
delicacies  of  the  larder,  may  be  under  the  eye,  or,  what  is 
better,  under  the  lock  and  key  of  the  mistress.  As  the  kitchen 
is  below  stairs,  in  the  ordinary  mode  the  dishes  will  require 
to  be  brought  up  the  stairs  and  across  the  staircase  entry 
to  reach  the  table.  This  is  somewhat  objectionable,  inasmuch 
as  a  hot  dinner  is  likely  to  become  cooled  in  this  long  state 
of  transition,  the  china  is  liable  to  become  broken  by  an 
occasional  misstep,  and  the  privacy  of  the  hall  is  unnecessa- 
rily intruded  upon,  by  the  repeated  coming  and  going  of  the 
domestics,  arranging  the  dinner.  We  shall  endeavor  to 
remedy  these  difficulties,  by  placing  in  the  httle  space  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  door  opening  from  the  dining-room  to 
the  pantry,  what  is  called  a  rising  cupboard  or  dumb  icaiter, 
which  wijl  be  found  a  more  careful,  more  obedient,  and  more 
unobtrusive  "help,"  than  any  other  in  the  house.     The  actual 


56  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

size  of  this  cupboard  need  not  be  more  than  twenty  inches 
by  three  and  a  half  or  four  feet,  which  will  just  occupy  the 
space  in  the  pantry  that  is  of  little  value  for  any  other  pur- 
pose. Or  if  it  should  be  thought  desirable  to  have  it  a  little 
wider,  the  width  may  be  increased  by  making  a  small  recess 
in  the  wall  of  the  house.     Fig.  19  shows  the  manner  in  which 

the  pantry  may  be  finished ; 

PANTRY *X8     I         ^'^^  P^"^''y  ^^'"g  ^"  ^'^^  ^'^S^^ 
side,    and    the    dumb  waiter 


D 


(Fig.  190  "         (T^  ^)  OJ^  the  left ;  the  cup- 

board rising  in  the  pantry  to  the  height  of  three  feet,  and 
descending  through  the  floor  to  the  closet  in  the  kitchen. 
The  mode  of  constructing  this  is  shown  in  the  details  of  this 
design.  Fig.  28. 

It  will  be  seen  on  examining  the  plan  of  the  principal  floor, 
that  by  placing  the  stairs  in  a  separate  passage  communicat- 
ing with  the  principal  hall,  this  hall  is  left  free  and  unen- 
cumbered, and  is  in  fact  a  pretty  little  ante-room,  twelve  by 
sixteen  feet.  This  is  doubly  advantageous,  as  the  servants 
are  enabled  to  go  from  the  basement  to  the  chamber  story 
without  passing  through  the  priiirij)al  hall  ;  thus  making  this 
single  staircase  to  serve  the  purposes,  in  a  great  measure, 
of  the  two  frequently  seen  in  the  villas,  vi;^.  the  stairs  in  the 
hall  used  by  the  family,  and  the  private  stairs  chiefly  used 
by  the  domestics.  From  this  passage  also  there  is  a  private, 
or  side  entrance  to  the  house,  by  an  outer  door.  The  hall 
is  lighted  l)y  two  small  windows  in  the  sides  and  by  the 
semi-glazed  door  as  shown  in  the  perspective  elevation. 

We  have  as  yet  said  nothing  of  the  neat  little  library  on 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  57 

the  right  of  the  hall  twelve  by  fourteen  feet  in  its  dimensions, 
where 

"  Selected  shelves  shall  claim  our  studious  hours." 

But  there  is  no  portion  of  the    house  which,  to  a  man  fond 
of  those  most  cheerful  and  never  tiresome  companions,  good 
books,  is  more  peculiarly  the  sanctum,  or  "  own  room,"  than 
the  library,  whether  it  be  small  or  large.     This,  though  small, 
is  sufficiently  ample  to  contain  all  the  best  books  ever  written ; 
large  enough  for  a  comfortable  ruddy  fire  in  a  damp  or  cold 
wintry  day,  and  for   an  ample    library  round-table    furnished 
with  the  necessary  materials  for  writing  and  correspondence 
of  all  kinds.      The  gentleman  who  is  to  occupy  this  cottage 
has,  besides  the  few  acres  on  which  this  residence  is  erected, 
a  farm  where  he  practises  agriculture  in  an  amateur  manner, 
and    on    his    library  shelves    may  therefore    be    found   a  few 
choice  works   on  rural  economy,  such  as  Loudon's  Encyclo- 
paedias,  Low's    Practical   Agriculture,  Johnson's   Agricultural 
Chemistry,    and    a   number    of    others    of   similar    character, 
and   on  the  table  lie  the  last  numbers  of   our  most   valuable 
and  interesting   agricultural    periodicals.       The  library  being 
fitted  up  in  a  plain  and    simple    manner,  answers    admirably 
also   as    an  office,    into  which  persons  who    call  to    see    the 
master    of  the    house    on   business    are    readily    shown    from 
the  hall  withoat  disturbing   the    family,    who   are    occupying 
the  dining-room,  or  parlor. 

The  veranda,  or  umbrage,  which  is  entered  by  windows 
opening  to  the  floor  of  the  two  principal  apartments,  is  a 
cool  and  shady  place  for  a  promenade,  and,  we  need  hardly 


58 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


repeat,  commands   the    most    delightful  views,  as    this   is  the 
river   front  of  the   house. 

In   the    phni   of  the   second    floor,  which  is  before  us,  are 

accommodations    for   tlie    fiimily   and   their   guests,   Fig.  20, 


SECOND 


[Figure  20.] 

consisting  of  four  excellent  sleeping  apartments,  each  witli 
a  small  closet  attached.  Two  of  these  are  of  ample  size,  and 
as  it  might  he  desirable  to  many  tu  have  in  them  a  greater 
amount  of  closet  room,  it  may  be  easily  obtained  by  making 
a  double  partition  between  these  apartments,  which  would 
allow  of  two  large  closets  in  the  space  thus  formed.  The 
bedroom,  twelve  by  twelve  feet,  over  the  hall,  is  a  pretty 
lodging  apartment  opening  through  a  picturesque  old  English 
oriel  window  on  a  balcony.  The  staircase  shown  in  this 
plan  gives  access  to  the  attic,  where  two  servants'  bedrooms 
are  located  k 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


50 


The  basement  accommodation,  Fig.  21,  shows  an  entrance 
into  the  staircase  passage  by  a  descent  of  steps ;   a  kitchen. 


PLAN      OF 


BAS  E  M  EN  T 


[Fig.  21.J 


and  cellar  of  good  dimensions,  a  servants'  sleeping  room 
(which  may  be  made  a  laundry  if  preferred),  and  a  small 
store-room  and  wine-cellar  conveniently  located. 

The  exterior  of  this  dwelling  is  designed  after  the  old 
English  architectm'e  of  the  Tudor  era,  a  style  replete  with 
interesting  associations,  as  it  is  the  genuine  and  most  cha- 
racteristic mode  of  building  long  ago  prevalent  in  the  finest 
country-houses  of  England,  associated  by  "  lay  and  legend 
ten  times  told,"  with  all  that  is  brightest  and  noblest  in  the 
history  of  our  mother  country.  It  is  highly  picturesque, 
abounding  in  the  finer  specimens  with  a  rich  variety  of 
gables,   turrets,   buttresses,  towers,  and  ornamental   chimney- 


60  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

shafts,  which  form  striking  and  spirited  objects  in  domestic 
architecture,  and  harmonize  agreeably  with  the  hills  and 
tree  tops,  and  all  the  intricacy  of  outline  in  natural  ob- 
jects. And  finally  the  irregularity  of  its  outlines,  admitting 
future  additions  with  facility,  the  substantial  and  permanent 
expression  of  its  exterior,  and  the  beauty  and  comfort  indi- 
cated in  the  richness,  variety,  and  size  of  its  windows,  all 
point  out  the  old  I'iiiifJish  style,  in  its  various  modifications, 
as  admirably  adapted  by  beauty  and  fitness  for  domestic 
purposes  in  a  cold   climate. 

This  cottage  being  of  very  moderate  size,  neither  demands 
nor  would  wdth  propriety  admit  a  profusion  of  ornament, 
and  we  have  indeed,  for  the  sake  of  economy,  made  it  as- 
sume a  character  and  a  degree  of  decoration  comparatively 
simple,  still,  however,  preserving  a  very  marked  and  distinct 
expression  of  the  style.  If  we  analyse  its  leading  features, 
we  shall  find  that  character  is  conferred  chiefly  by  the 
windows  and  the  chimney  tops,  the  two  most  essential  and 
characteristic  features  of  dwelling-houses  as  contrasted  with 
buildings  for  any  other  purposes ;  and  to  which,  as  such, 
decoration  should  always  be  first  applied  rather  than  to  any 
less  essential  or  superadded  features;  for  example,  to  co- 
lumns or  a  colonnade.  Thimney  tops,  since  we  cannot  dis- 
pense with  them,  should  always  be  rendered  ornamental, 
both  strongly  expressive  of  comfort,  no  house  being  tole- 
rable in  a  cold  climate  without  fires,  and  on  account  of  their 
occupying  the  highest  part  of  the  building,  and  therefore  being 
most  likely  to  strike  tlie  eye  agreeably  if  aj)propriate,  or 
oflend    it    if  ugly  and    unshapely  in  form.     We    have   shown 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  61 

in    tliis    design    one   of  the    sinTplest    forms    of   old    English 
chimneys,  many  of  which  are  extremely  beautiful* 

An  edifice  in  this  style  should  be  built  of  none  but  the 
most  solid  materials.  Stone  would  be  the  most  appropriate, 
as  it  has  a  substantial  and  durable  character  in  keeping  with 
the  style,  and  next  to  this,  brick,  or  brick  covered  with  the 
best  cement,  would  be  most  suitable.  To  erect  a  dwelling 
in  this  style,  of  so  light  and  frail  a  material  as  wood,  under 
any  circumstances,  would  be  a  complete  violation  of  good 
taste,  as  there  would  be  an  entire  discordance  or  incongru- 
ity between  the  style  adopted  and  the  material  employed. 
Where  wood  is  the  only  material  within  our  reach,  some 
lighter  and  more  suitable  style  should  be  adopted,  and  the 
result  will  then  undoubtedly  be  more  satisfactory. 

A  solecism  in  taste  which  we  have  several  times  witnessed 
with  pain  in  this  country,  and  which  we  will  therefore 
caution  our  readers  and  the  occupant  of  this  cottage  against, 
is  the  introduction  of  green  blinds,  or  Venetian  shutters,  upon 
a  building  in  the  pointed,  or  the  English  cottage  style.  This 
kind  of  shutter,  applied  to  the  outside  of  buildings,  belongs 
properly  to  the  Venetian,  Tuscan,  or  Italian  villas,  where  the 
architecture  is  lighter  and  more  fanciful,  and  the  windows 
are  frequently  mere  openings  for  the  circulation  of  air ;  but 
to  cover  a  handsome  or  quaint  old  English  window,  enriched 
by  decorative  mullions  and  window-heads,  with  an  outside 
shutter  belonging  to  a  totally  different  style  of  building,  and 


*  By  an  error  in  the  engraving,  the  base  of  each  stack  of  chimneys  in  the 
elevation  of  this  design  is  made  to  appear  too  low ;  a  more  correct  proportion 
is  shown  in  the  details,  Fig.  15. 


Q2  rOTTA<;E     UKPIDEN'CE3.  ' 

painted  a  bright  green,  is  as  revolting  to  a  mind  imbued  with 
correct  principles  of  taste,  as  to  cover  the  venerable  head  «il 
a  staid  gentleman  of  the  old  school  with  the  flaunting  head- 
dress of  an  Italian  peasant  girl.  Outside  shutters  of  any 
description  are  scarcely  admissible  in  this  style  of  architec- 
ture, as  they  conceal  one  of  the  chief  sources  of  interest  in 
the  exterior,  lint  as  tiie  walls  are  thick,  inside  shutters,  or 
even  inside  blinds,  are  easily  introduced.  The  latter  may  be 
made  to  fold  into  window  casings  like  ordinary  box  shutters, 
where  they  will  serve  the  purposes  of  both  shutters  and 
blinds :  and  will  be  found  more  convenient  and  more 
appropriate  than  outside  blinds,  without  violating  correct 
principles  ot"  art. 

The  interior  of  this  cottage  may  be  finished  in  a  very 
simple  manner.  But  the  effect  will  be  far  more  consistent 
and  satisfactory,  if  some  attention  is  paid  to  keeping  up  the 
pointed,  or  old  English  character,  in  the  finish  of  at  least 
!he  f)rincipal  apartments.  This  may  be  done  without  incur- 
ring any  extra  expense,  merely  by  employing  Gothic,  or 
pointed  mouldings  and  details  in  the  trimmings  of  the  doors 
and  windows,  the  forius  of  the  cornices  and  chimney  pieces. 
As  there  are  now  numerous  examples  of  this  style  of  dwell- 
ing in  the  middle  States,  there  will  be  little  or  no  difficulty 
in  procuring  the  necessary  forms  of  designs,  moulds,  and 
planes,  for  a  cottage  of  this  kind.  A  person  whose  taste  is 
sufliciently  cultivated  to  jiiducc  hiin  to  desire  sucJi  a  dwelling 
as  this,  will  naturally  inlorm  himself  of  the  actual  efiect. 
both  as  regards  the  interior  an<l  exterior  finish,  by  inspection 
of  the  best  example  of  the  style  within  his  reach;  or,  for  a 
small    sum.   he    may  obtain    from    an   architect  the   working 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  63 

drawings  necessary  for  the  complete  execution  of  the  whole, 
by  the  builders  employed,  in  the  most  correct  manner. 

A  harmonious  and  pleasing  effect  is  produced  in  houses  in 
the  old  English  style,  by  painting  and  graining  the  wood- 
work in  imitation  of  oak  or  black  walnut.  This  is  partly 
owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  allusion  thus  awakened  in  the  mind, 
to  the  "old  oaken  wainscots,"  always  so  characteristic  a  fea- 
ture in  the  antique  houses  in  this  style,  but  partly,  also,  to 
the  mellow  and  furnished  look  which  the  warm  and  dark 
tone  of  the  wood  gives  to  the  apartments.  In  an  economical 
point  of  view,  it  has  also  the  great  recommendation  of  being 
kept  clean  and  bright,  with  one  twentieth  part  of  the  labor 
expended^  in  maintaining  wood-work,  painted  in  white,  in 
its  original  purity. 

Details.  In  the  construction  of  a  cottage  in  the  pointed 
style,  attention  should  be  paid  to  an  unity  of  design  in  all 
parts  of  the  building.  One  of  the  most  essential  principles 
in  this  style,  is  the  recognition  of  the  arch,  in  some  manner, 
in  all  the  principal  openings.  In  public  buildings,  all 
windows  and  doors  terminate  upward  in  the  pointed  arch ; 
in  domestic  architecture  this  would  often  be  inconvenient, 
as  in  the  case  of  windows  in  apartments  on  the  first  floor, 
where  inside  shutters  are  required.  The  windows  are  gene- 
rally therefore  square-headed,  but  the  principle  of  the  arch 
appears  in  the  moulded  window  tracery. 

In  Fig.  22  is  shown  a  small  portion  of  the  veranda  on  the 
river  front,  with  its  appropriate  columns,  and  the  archway 
between. 


G4 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


A  portion  of  the  balcony   to    the    oriel   window    is    shown 
in  Fig.  23.     In  Fig.  24,  is  shown  one  of  the  dormer  windows 


[Fig.  23.]  fF'g-  24. 

of    the    front   elevation.      For   the    section   and    plan   of    the 
lower  windows,  see  Fig.    12,  of  Design  I. 

The  section  or  profile  of  the  label,  or  lintel  <if 
the  window,  is  shown  in  Fig.  25  ;  and  that  of  the 
wall-coping  in  Fig.  20  ;    both  to  the  scale  of  half 
[Fi».  25.J      an  inch  to  a  loot. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


65 


A  stack  of  chimneys  suitable  for  tiiis  cot- 
tage, is  shown  in  Fig.  27,  which  may  be  built 
of  brick  ;  the  chimney  tops  being  8  feet  high, 
above  the  base  or  square  platform.    The  flues 
may  be  square   or  circular  within  (the  lat- 
ter is  preferable),  and  ten  or  twelve  inches 
in  diameter.    Circular  flues  are  easily  formed 
by  building  round  a  cylinder  of  tin,  which 
is  worked  upwards   by  turning  it  with   the 
hand   as   the    chimney  is  carried  up.      The 
interior  of  the  flue  next  the  cylinder  is  cov- 
ered with  mortar  in  building,  and  the  gradual 
withdrawal  of  the  cylinder  upwards,  leaves  a 
smooth  plastered  surface. 

A    section    showing    the    construction    of 
the  rising  cupboard,   or  dumb  waiter,   is   shown   in  F\cr.  28. 
In   this   section,   the   floor  of  the   pantry   is   indicated   at    f 
the  portion   above  being   enclosed  in 
a  sort   of   sideboard   or  closet  in  the 
pantry,  and  the  part  below  in  a  simi- 
lar closet  in  the   basement.     At  a,  is 
^1^   the  cupboard  with  three  shelves.    This 
cupboard,  with  the  dishes  it  will  con- 
tain, is  balanced   by  the  weight  c,  at 
the   end  of  a  rope,  passing  over    the 
pulleys  b,  which  are  attached  to  the 
top  of  the    cupboard.     This,   with   a 
slight  impetus,  sends  the  loaded  cup- 
^^'^-  ^-^  board  up  to  the  top  ;  it  is  drawn  down 

by  a  small  wheel  and  crank,  d,  with  a  similar  cord  or  leathern 
5 


60  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

strap,  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the  cupboard.  This  wheel  and 
crank  are  fixed  firmly  at  the  bottom  of  the  trmik  in  which  the 
cupboard  moves,  and  about  a  foot  and  a  half  above  the  floor 
of  the  kitchen.  The  top  of  the  trunk,  or  that  part  above  the 
floor,/,  is  disguised,  and  rendered  ornamental,  by  the  neat  side- 
board or  closet  covering  it,  which  opens  in  front  to  allow  the 
dishes  to  be  taken  out. 

Estimate.  If  this  cottage  is  built  of  brick  and  stucco,  with 
cut  stone  labels  to  the  windows,  and  finished  in  a  consistent 
and  appropriate,  though  simple  manner  in  the  interior,  it  will 
cost  about  83500.  Built  of  quarried  stone,  where  the  latter 
is  not  abundant,  it  would  probably  cost  $3800. 

THE    GROUNDS    OF    DESIGN    III. 

The  situation  of  the  ground,  four  acres  in  extent,  upon  which 
this  dwelling  is  to  be  erected,  we  have  already  partly  de- 
scribed. It  is  nearly  a  parallelogram,  one  end  of  which  bor- 
ders tlie  public  road  and  the  other  is  bounded  by  the  river. 
In  its  original  state,  before  operations  were  commenced,  the 
place  appeared  only  a  simple  meadow,  the  land  of  fair  quality, 
and  the  surface  level,  or  nearly  so,  between  the  road  and 
the  site  of  the  house,  but  sloping  off"  to  the  river,  in  some 
parts  gently,  and  in  others  more  abrujitly,  about  100  feet 
beyond  the  veranda  on  the  river  side  of  the  house,  at  //. 
Fig.  20.  The  best  soil  for  a  garden  appeared  to  be  on  the 
left  of  the  property,  and  we  accordingly  located  the  kitchen 
garden  /,  and  the  orchard  of  choice  fruits  g,  in  this  quarter. 

As  it  was  not  thought  desirable  by  the  owner  of  this  place 
to  expend  much  in  keeping  the  place  in  order,  beyond  what 


COTTAGE     REsmENCES. 


07 


labor  might  be  required  in  the  kitchen  garden,  few  walks  are 
introduced,  except  such  as  are  actually  necessary  or  convenient. 
Of  these  the  most  essential  in  every  place  is  the  entrance  road, 
or  Approach  6,  which  leaves  the  public  road  in  this  example  at  a, 


fFig,  29.J 


G8  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

that  \)o\ni  being  indicated  as  most  suitable  by  the  situation  of 
the  ground,  and  by  the  shelter  and  effect  which  will  be  given 
to  the  entrance  gate  by  two  or  three  large  trees  found  grow- 
ing there.  There  is  a  gravelled  area  in  front  of  the  house, 
upon  which  carriages  may  turn,  and  at  the  extremity  of  this 
road  are  the  stable  d,  and  stable  yard  e.  Next  to  the  Approach, 
the  most  desirable  walk  is  one  for  exercise,  leading  over  more 
secluded  parts  of  the  place,  or  to  spots  enjoying  beautiful  or 
extensive  prospects.  In  a  place  of  small  extent,  it  is  desirable 
to  have  this  walk  as  long  as  possible,  which  is  generally  ef- 
fected by  making  the  circuit  of  the  space  offered,  keeping  at 
such  a  distance  from  boundary  fences  that  they  may  not  be 
obtrusive.  Such  a  walk  is  shown  at  i,  which  leaving  the 
veranda,  on  the  river  front  of  the  house,  proceeds  in  easy 
curves,  shaded  by  occasional  groups  of  trees,  over  the  whole 
area  between  the  house  and  the  river. 

On  the  right  of  the  house,  looked  out  upon  from  the  bay 
window  of  the  parlor,  is  a  small  area  of  smooth  turf,  sur- 
rounded by  the  walk  k,  and  containing  some  irregular  beds 
and  circles,  cut  in  the  turf,  devoted  to  choice  flowers.  At 
/,  on  the  left,  is  a  corresponding  walk,  serving  the  purpose 
of  connecting  the  two  principal  walks,  which  is  thickly 
bordered  with  ornamental  shrubbery.  With  the  exception 
of  a  lew  vines  on  the  veranda,  and  shrubs  near  the  house, 
these  two  small  walks,  with  their  accompaniments  of  liowers 
and  shrubs,  comprise  all  the  ornamental  details  of  the  place 
requiring  much  care.  All  that  portion  of  the  grounds  between 
the  public  road  and  the  line  //,  is  in  lawn  or  grass,  and  is  kept 
short  by  repeated  mowings  during  summer.  At  //,  is  a  slight 
paling  fence  rendered  inconspicuous  by  painting  it  dark  green. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  69 

This  fence  follows  the  lower  line  of  the  ridge,  and  from  the 
house  is  not  visible,  on  account  of  the  slope  of  the  ground 
just  above  that  line  ;  the  fence  being  six  or  eight  feet  below 
the  level  of  the  platform  on  which  the  house  stands.  The 
area  embraced  between  this  fence  and  the  river  is  also  in 
grass,  but  which  here,  however,  is  kept  short  by  the  pasturage 
of  a  cow,  or  a  few  sheep. 

Instead  of  this  fence  of  pales  a  sunk  fence  or  ha-ha,  might 
be  preferred,  and  where  stone  is  abundant  it  would  not  be 
more  expensive.  The  construction  of  such  a  fence  will  be 
easily  understood  by  referring  to  the  accompanying  section, 
Fig.  30,  in  which  a  is   the   level  of  the   ground,  falling  off 


[Fig.  30.] 


gradually  at  h,  where  a  wall  3i  feet  deep,  open  on  the  side 
facing  the  declining  surface,  would  form  an  effectual  protection 
against  cattle  on  the  lower  side.  It  is  evident  from  the  section 
shown  here,  that,  to  a  person  standing  at  a,  the  fence  and 
depressed  surface  at  its  bottom  not  being  seen,  there  would  be 
no  apparent  barrier  or  interruption  to  the  view  across  the 
whole  space  to  the  river.  Such  a  fence,  it  should  be  remarked, 
must,  as  in  the  present  case,  run  across  the  surface  to  be 
looked  over,  and  not  in  any  direction  parallel  to  the  line  of 


70  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

vision.  In  commencing  the  description  of  tiiis  j)Iace,  it  was 
remarked  that  the  few  fine  trees  already  growing  on  it  gave 
it  a  considerable  degree  of  character.  The  majority  of  these 
were  oaks  and  chestnuts  of  good  size,  and  as  the  expression 
of  dignity  and  picturesqueness  inherent  in  these  trees  is  in 
excellent  keeping  with  the  style  of  this  dwelling,  it  will  be 
advisable  to  maintain  this  character  by  planting  chiefly  round- 
headed  trees,  rather  than  drooping  trees  like  the  elm,  which 
are  mainly  expressive  of  gracefulness.  Near  the  house,  a  few 
Larches  and  Hemlocks  are  also  introduced,  as  the  spirited 
forms  ot  these  trees,  contrasted  with  the  round-headed  ones, 
will  add  to  the  picturesque  character  of  the  architecture. 

At  the  end  of  this  section  we  shall  give  a  list  of  the  finest 
ornamental  trees  classed  according  to  height  and  other 
qualities,  and  another  of  shrubs,  from  which  selections  may 
be  made  for  planting  this  and  other  designs.  We  shall,  in 
relation  to  these,  only  remark  at  present  that,  in  ordtM-  to 
insure  a  rapid  and  vigorous  growth  to  these  trees,  the  holes, 
previously  to  planting  them,  should  be  thoroughly  prepared 
by  throwing  out  the  soil  two  feet  in  depth,  and  from  three 
to  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  mixing  it  intimately  with  a  j)leiitiful 
supply  of  compost  or  well  rotted  manure,  before  returning 
It  to  the  holes  in  planting.  When  a  tree  is  planted  in  the 
ordinary  manner  without  preparation,  from  the  poverty  of  the 
soil,  and  the  closeness  of  those  portions  of  it  adjacent  to  the 
roots  of  the  newly  moved  tree,  it  requires  a  year  or  two  to 
recover  from  the  removal,  and  advances  afterwards  in  its 
growtli  "Illy  in  a  feeble  and  tardy  manner.  On  the  other 
hand,  where  the  holes  are  carefully  prepared,  the  soil  fnnn'shed 
with  a   plentiful  supply  of  nutriment,  and  rendered  loose  and 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  71 

easily  permeable  by  the  light  and  air,  as  well  as  by  the  roots, 
the  newly  transplanted  tree  soon  establishes  itself,  and  makes 
rapid  and  luxuriant  shoots.  In  many  soils  it  will  be  found 
that  this  previous  preparation  will  insure  a  growth  more  than 
four  times  as  vigorous  as  that  resulting  from  the  usual  hasty 
and  careless  mode  of  planting  without  preparation  ;  and  it  is 
therefore  better  policy,  where  effect  is  speedily  desired,  to 
plant  a  few  trees  in  the  best  manner,  than  a  great  number 
in  the  ordinary  careless  mode. 

Another  very  erroneous  practice,  of  frequent  occurrence 
with  planters  of  little  experience,  in  the  United  States, 
consists  in  planting  the  tree  too  deep.  This  is  not  only  to 
the  eye  contrary  to  nature,  and  in  violation  therefore  of 
correct  taste,  but  it  is  destructive  to  the  health  of  the 
tree,  by  placing  the  mass  of  young  roots  below  the  genial 
influence  of  the  atmosphere.  Treated  in  this  manner,  trees 
will  frequently  struggle  against  the  adverse  situation  for 
years,  without  ever  attaining  any  considerable  degree  of 
luxuriance. 

If  we  observe  a  tree  growing  in  a  natural  state  after 
it  has  attained  some  size,  we  must  at  once  remark,  that 
the  base  of  the  trunk,  or  that  part  nearest  the  ground,  is 
much  larger  than  the  same  trunk  a  few  inches  above  ; 
and  that  in  consequence  of  the  development  of  roots  just 
below  this  point,  the  tree  appears  to  stand  on  a  base  a 
little  elevated  above  the  level  of  the  ground  about  it. 
This  gives  it  an  appearance  of  strength  and  dignity,  and 
connects  it,  by  a  natural  transition,  with  the  surface  around 
it.  Now  a  tree,  however  large,  which  has  been  planted 
too    deep,    presents   no   appearance   of    this   kind,   but    rises 


78  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

out  of  the  level  ground  without  any  base,  in  a  manner 
precisely  similar  to  a  post.  In  order  to  prevent  this 
appearance,  it  is  advisable,  in  planting,  to  set  out  the  trees 
on  a  hillock,  a  few  inches  raised  above  the  surface,  in 
order  that  they  may,  when  the  ground  settles  about  them, 
have  a  natural  appearance  to  the  eye,  and  that  the  roots 
may  also  be  placed  in  the  most  favorable  condition. 

We  have  arranged  the  trees  to  be  planted  on  the  lawn, 
in  this  design,  as  in  most  of  the  others,  in  the  natural 
style  of  landscape  gardening — that  is,  with  a  view  to  the 
production  of  natural  beauty.  This  is  effected  by  planting 
the  trees  in  irregular  groups,  or  singly,  in  a  manner  some- 
what similar  to  that  in  which  they  occur  in  nature,  avoiding 
straight  lines  and  parallel  rows,  because  such  lines  indicate 
a  formal  art,  never  found  in  natural  landscape.  At  the 
same  time  the  effect  will  be  not  the  less  indicative  of 
elegant  art,  which  will  be  evinced,  1st,  In  the  employment 
of  many  exotic  trees,  or  those  obviously  not  natives  of 
this  part  of  the  country,  as  the  Horse  Chestnut,  or  the 
European  Linden  ;  2(1,  In  the  space  allowed  tor  the  trees 
to  devclope  themselves  fully  in  the  lawn  from  //  to  a,  and 
in  the  more  park-like  forms  which  they  will  therefore 
assume  in  time :  and  3dly,  In  the  manner  in  which  these 
trees  are  arranged.*  The  latter  consists  in  concealing  all 
objects  which  would  not  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  scene 
by  an  irregular  plantation,  as  for  example,  the  fence  of  the 


*  Landscape  gardening,  aa  an  art,  docs  not  consist,  as  many  seem  to  sup- 
pose, in  producing  a  counterfeit  of  nature,  but  in  idealizing  natural  beauts 
in  a  lawn,  park,  or  garden. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  73 

kitchen  garden  at  m,  or  the  out-buildings  at  d ;  in  planting 
the  borders  of  the  Approach,  and  of  all  walks,  so  as  to 
give  an  obvious  reason  (when  none  other  exists)  for  the 
curves  of  such  walks,  as  well  as  to  shade  or  shelter  tliem ; 
and  in  contrasting  these  plantations  by  broad  open  glades 
of  turf,  n.  On  the  river  side  of  the  house,  the  trees  should 
be  so  arranged  as  not  to  shut  out  any  important  portion 
of  the  prospect. 

It  is  preferred  in  this  design,  not  to  have  any  spot 
especially  devoted  to  a  flower  garden,  but  in  its  place  to 
assemble  a  showy  and  select  collection  of  flowers,  in  beds 
dug  in  the  turf,  bordering  the  walk  k,  near  the  house.  In 
this  way  the  flowers  are  brought  near  the  house,  and  their 
beauty  enjoyed,  without  destroying  the  simplicity  and  gene- 
ral effect  of  the  place,  by  cutting  off"  a  separate  space  for 
a   flower   garden. 

In  laying  out  the  kitchen  garden  f,  the  border  within 
the  boundary  is  devoted  to  fruit  trees,  as  designated  on 
the  plan,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  space  in  the  corner 
adjoining  the  stable  yard  e,  for  hot  beds.  There  is  a 
separate  entrance  for  a  cart  or  wagon  to  this  vard,  or  to 
the  kitchen  garden,  by  a  road  on  the  left  of  the  kitchen 
garden.  The  interior  of  the  latter  is  left  free  for  grow- 
ing vegetables  ;  and  a  select  collection  of  fruit  is  planted 
in  the  small  orchard  g.  This  little  orchard,  together  with 
the  border  set  apart  in  the  kitchen  garden,  if  planted 
with  the  selection  of  fruit  trees,  forty-two  in  number, 
given  for  this  purpose  in  a  succeeding  page,  will  furnish 
a  moderate  supply  to  the  family,  through  the  greater  part 
of  the  year.     They  are  to  be  cultivated  as  standards,  unless 


74 


COTTAGE     RKSIDRNCE9. 


I  he  proprietor  prefers  training  those  in  the  kitchen  garden 
us  espaHers,  and  the  i^M-ound  in  the  orchard  ^'■,  is  to  be 
devoted  to  ])otatoes,  beets,  turnips,  or  other  roots,  both  for 
the  purpose  of  turning  tlie  ground  to  account,  and  of  pro- 
moting  the  growth   of  the   trees. 

List  of  llic  finest  liardtj  ornamental  trees  of  foreign  and  native 
growth,  for  planting  in  groups  and  masses. 

CLASS    I . 

Deciduous  trees  of  the  largest  size,  and  of  very  rapid  growm. 


Chinese  Ailanthus, 

European  Alder, 

Cut-leaved  do.     - 

Norway  Maple, 

Sugar  Maple,       -        .        - 

Catalpa,       -         .         -        - 

Spanish  Chestnut, 

European  Ash,    - 

American  White  do.    - 

Three  Thorned  Acacia, 

Tulip  Tree, 

European  Larch, 

American   do.,     .        -        - 

American  Plane,  or  Sycamore, 

Oriental  do. 

Lombardy  Poplar, 

Silver-leaved  Aspen,  or  Abele, 

Cotton  Wood    do. 

Yellow  Locust,    -        -        - 


Ailantus  glandulosa, 
Alnus  glutinosa. 

do.        do.    laciniata. 
Acer  platanoides. 
Acer  saccharinuvi. 
Catalpa  syringecfolia, 
Castanea  vesca. 
Fraxinits  excelsior. 

do.       americana. 
Gledilschia  triacanthos. 
Liriodendron  tulipifera. 
Larix  europcca. 

do.   microcarpa. 
Platanus  occidenlalis. 

do.         orienlalis. 
Popttlus  dililata. 
do.      alba, 
do.      aiigulala. 
Robiiiia  pseud-acacia. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


75 


Weeping  Willow, 
Huntington  do.    - 
American  Linden,        ... 
European  Linden,        ... 
Red-twigged  do.  .        .        . 

American  White,  or  Drooping  Elm, 
English  Elm,       .        .        ."       . 
Dutch,  or  Corked-bark  Elm, 
Scotch,  or  Wych  Elm, 


Salix  hahyhmica. 

do.  alba. 
Tilia  glabra. 

do.    europcva. 

do.  rubra. 
Ulmus  americana. 

do.     campesiris. 

do.     suberosa. 

do.     monlana. 


CLASS    II 


Deciduous  trees  of  the  largest  she,  and  of  inoderale  growtli. 


White  Horse  Chestnut, 
Scarlet  Maple,     -        -        - 
Silver-leaved  do. 
Sycamore  do.       - 
Scotch  Weeping  Birch, 
Black  Birch,        .        .        . 
American  Beech, 
Kentucky  Coffee, 
Sassafras  Tree, 
Liquidamber,  or  Sweet  Gum, 
Cucumber  Magnolia, 
American  White  Oak, 

do.       Scarlet  do. 
Overcup  Oak,      -        .        - 
English    do.        -        -        - 
Lucombe's  Seedling  Oak,    - 
Willow-leaved        do. 
American  Cypress, 


JEsculus  hippocaslanum. 
Acer  rubrum. 
do.    dasycarpum. 
do.  pseudo-platamis. 
Belula  alba,  pendula. 

do.   lenla. 
Fagus  americana. 
Gymnocladus  canadensis. 
Laurus  sassafras. 
Liquidamber  styraciflua. 
Magnolia  acuminata. 
Quercus  alba. 

do.      coccinea. 

do.      macrocarpa. 

do.      Robur. 

do.     lucombeana. 

do.      phellos. 
Taxodium  dislichum. 


70 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


CLASS     III. 


Deciduous  trees  of  medium  size,  and  of  rapid  groioth. 


Buckeye,  or  Western  Horse  Chestnut,  Pavia  rubra. 


Pale  Yellow 
Weeping  Ash,     - 
Umbrella  Magnolia,     - 
Large  leaved  do. 
Ash  leaved  Maple, 
Osage  Orange,    - 
Double  Flowering  Cherry, 
Ringlet  Willow, 
Wahoo  Elm. 


do.        -  do.    Jlavia. 

Fraxinus  excelsior,  pendula. 
Magnolia  tripetala. 

do.       macrophylla. 
Negundo  fraxinifolia. 
Madura  auranliaca. 
Ccrasus  Jlore  pleno 
Salix  annularis. 
Ulmus  alala. 


CLASS    IV. 


Deciduous  trees  of  medium  size,  and  moderate  growth. 


Papaw,  or  Western  Custard  Apple, 
Red  Bird,  or  Judas  Tree, 
White  flowering  Dogwood,  - 
Scotch  Laburnum,        -        - 
Persimon,  or  American  Medlar,    - 
Purple  leaved  Beech,  ... 
Yellow  Magnolia,        ... 
Sour  Gum,  -         .         .        - 

Paper  Birch,         .         .        -        - 
Japan  Ginko  Tree,      ... 
European  Mountain  Ash, 
American        do.        do. 


Anona  triloba. 
Cercis  canadensis. 
Cornus  Jlorida. 
Cytissus  alpinus. 
Diospyrus  virginiana. 
Fagus  sylvalica,  purpurea. 
Magnolia  cordala. 
Nyssa  xillosa. 
Bctula  papyracea. 
Salisburia  adianlifolia. 
Sorbus  aucuparia. 
do.     amcricana. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 


77 


Hardy  Evergreen  trees. 


Norway  Spruce  Fir,    - 
Double  Black  Spruce  Fir,    ■ 
Balsam,  or  Balm  of  Gilead, 
Hemlock  Fir, 

White,  or  Weymouth  Pine, 
Yellow  Pine, 
English  Yew, 
American  Arbor  Vitae, 


Abies  picea. 

do.     nigra. 

do.  halsamp.a. 

do.     canadensis. 
Pinus  strnbus. 

do.     variabilis. 
Taxus  baccata. 
Thuya  occidentalis. 


CLASS    V. 


Hardy  shrubs  growing  from  6  to  20  feet  high. 


Hercules  Club,    -        -        -        - 
Snow-Drop,  or  White  Fringe  Tree, 
Narrow  leaved  do.  - 

Laburnum,  or  Golden  chain, 
Weeping  do.      - 

Yellow  Bladder  Senna, 
Pink  flowering  Hawthorn,    - 
New  Scarlet  do. 

Double  White         do. 
Cornelian  Cherry,        ... 
European    Strawberry    Tree,    or 

Burning  Bush,      .         -         - 
White  Fruited        do. 
Purple  Flowering  do. 
American  do. 

Silver  Bell  Tree, 
Althea  Frutex,  or  Rose  of  Sharon, 

many  sorts  and  colors. 
Silvery  Buckthorn,      -        -        - 


Aralia  spinosa. 
Chionanthus  virginica. 
do.        marilima. 
Cytissus  laburnum. 

do.  do.         pendula. 

Coluiea  arborescens. 
Crategus  oxycantha,  var. 

do.  do.         var. 

do.  do.         Jl.  pi. 

Cornus  mascula. 

Euonymus  europccus. 

do.  do.         fructu  alio. 

do.        alropurpureus. 

do.        americanus. 
Halesia  telraptera. 

Hibiscus  syriacus. 
Hippnphae  rhamnoides. 


78 


COTTAr.E     RESIDENCES. 


Chinese  Kolreuteria,    - 
Snowy  Flowered  iVIespilus, 
Glaucous,  or  Swamp  Magnolia,    - 
Carolina  large  flowering  Syringo, 
Common  fragrant  do.     - 

Semi-double  do.     - 

Hop  Tree,  .        .        .        . 

Venetian  Sumac,  or  Purple  Fringe 
Tree,        .    -        -        -        - 
Shrubby  Yellow  Robinia,     - 
Silvery-leaved  Shepherdia,  or  Buf- 
falo berry,    -        -        -        - 
Three-leaved  Bladder  Nut,  - 
White  and  Purple  Lilacs, 
White  and  Purple  Persian  Lilacs, 
(^ut leaved  do.  - 

French  Tamarisk,        .        .        - 
Snowball,  or  Guelder  Rose, 
Wav-faring  Tree, 


Kolreuteria  paniculata. 
MespUus  hotryapium. 
Magnolia  glauca, 
PhiJaddplms  grandijlorus. 

do.  coronarius. 

Jo.  semi'pleno. 

Ptcka  (rifoliala. 

Rhus  cotinus. 

Robinia  frutescens, 

Shepherdia  argeniea. 
Staphjlea  Irifoliala. 
Syringa  vulgaris. 

do.       persica. 

do.  laciniala. 
Tamarix  gallica. 
Viburnum  opulus. 

do.  lanlana. 


CLASS    VI 


Hardy  shi-ubs,  gruicing  from  I  to  6  or  8  feet  high. 


Indigo  Shrub,       ... 

Dwarf  White  Horse  Chestnut, 

Groundsel  Tree, 

Sweet  scented  Shrub. 

Fragrant  Clethra, 

Panicled  flowered  Clpthra,    - 

Red  flowering  bladder  Senna. 

Scorpion  Senna, 

Bloody  twigged  Dogwood,    - 


Amorpha  fruticosa. 
.K-sth/h-s  macrostachya. 
Barcharis  halimifnUa. 
Calycanthus  floi-idus. 
Clethra  alnifolia. 

do.      paniculata. 
Colutea  arborescens. 
Coronilla  emcrus. 
Cornus  sanguinca. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 


*U 


Cluster  flowered  Cytissus,    - 
Scarlet  Japan  Quince, 
Blush,  or  White  do. 
Pink  Mezereon,  .        .        - 

White  Mezereon,         -        .        - 
Oak  leaved  Hydrangea, 
Italian  yellow  Jasmine, 
Japan  yellow  Globe  Flower, 
Common  Privet,  or  Prim, 
Tartarian  Upright,  or  Tree  Honey- 
suckle  "       -        -        -        - 
White  flowering  Honeysuckle, 
Black  berried  do. 

English  fly  do. 

Dwarf  Syringo,  -        .        - 

Shrubby  Cinquefoil,     - 
Double  Purple  Tree  Poeony, 
Single  Pink  and  Purple  do. 
Double  Rose  colored       do. 
Rose  Acacia,       .        .        -        - 
Shrubby  Caragana,      -        -        - 
Corymbose  Spirea,       -        -        - 
Panicled        do.  .        .        . 

Pretty  flowering  Spirea, 
Sorb  leaved  do. 

Red  flowering        do. 
St.  Peter's  Wreath,     - 
Snowberry  (white  fruit), 
Indian  Currant  (red  fruit),   - 
Parsley  leaved  Yellow-Root, 


Cylissiis  capitatus. 
Cydonia  japonica. 

do,       alba. 
Daphne  mezereum. 
Daphne  m.  album. 
Hydrangea  quercifolia. 
Jasminum  humile. 
Kerria  japonica. 
Ligustrum  vulgare, 

Lonicera  tartarica. 

do.       alba, 
do.       nigrum. 

do.  xylosleum. 
Philadelphus  nanus, 
Poteniilla  fruticosa. 
Pcconia  moutan  Banksia, 

do.      fapaveracea. 

do.      rosea. 
Robinia  hispida, 

do.      caragana. 
Spirea  corymbosa. 

do.    paniculata. 

do.     bella. 

do.     sorbifolia. 

do.     tomentosa. 

do.     hypericifolia . 
Symphoria  racemosa. 
do.        glomerata . 
Zanlhoriza  apiifolia. 


Evergreen  Shrubs. 


Tree  Box, 
American  Holly, 


Buxus  arborescens. 
Ilex  opaca. 


80 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


European  do.,  rather  tender  at  the 
north,  .        .        -        - 

Swedish  Juniper,  ... 

Common  Laurel,  or  Kalmia, 
American  Rhododendron, 


licx  aquifolium. 
Jiiniperus  suecia. 
Kalmia  ladjulia. 
Rododendron  maximum. 


Selection  of  very  choice  fruits,  for  the  small  orchard  of  42  trees. 


CHERRIES. 

1  Knight's  early  Black. 
1  Mayduke. 
1  Tartarian. 

1  Downton. 

TEARS. 

■2  Bartlett. 
•2  Scckel. 

2  Beurrc  Bosc. 

]  Early  Madeline. 
1  Winter  Nelis. 

1  Bloodgood's  Early. 

2  Marie  Louise. 
1  Beurrc'  Diel. 

PLUMS. 

1  Coe's  Golden  Drop. 
1  Washington. 
I  Green  Gage. 
1  La  Roy  ale. 
1   JetVerson. 


PEACHES. 

2  George  the  IV. 
2  Early  Newington. 
2  Morris  White. 
1  Early  York. 
1  Large  White  Cling. 

1  Crawford's  late. 

APPLES. 

2  Newtown  Pippin. 
1   Yellow  Harvest. 

1  Fall  Pippin. 

2  Baldwin. 

1  Rhode  Island  Greening. 
1  Yellow  BellHower. 
1  Northern  Spy. 


1   Moorpark. 
1  Turkey. 

NECTARINES. 

1    Early  Violet. 
1   Elru":e. 


Total  4: 


DESIG.N  IV. 

AW  OR>TAMEKTAL  "F^'RM  HOnPT 


PRINCIPAL    FLOOR 


Fi8    -U 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES,  81 


DESIGN    IV. 

An  Ornamental  Farm-House. 

In  designing  this  farm-house,  we  have  had  two  objects  in 
view ;  first,  to  offer  to  the  large  class  of  intelligent  farmers  a 
plan  of  a  house  of  moderate  size,  somewhat  adapted  in  internal 
accommodation  to  their  peculiar  wants  :  and  second,  to  give  to 
the  exterior,  at  little  additional  cost,  some  architectural  beauty. 
The  first  object,  it  is  evident,  must  ever  be  the  principal  one  in 
a  farmer's  dwelling,  and  therefore  everything  should  yield  to 
such  an  interior  arrangement  as  will  give  the  greatest  amount 
of  comfort,  and  the  maximum  of  convenience,  in  performing  in- 
door labor.  But  beyond  this,  there  is  no  reason  why  the  dwell- 
ing-houses of  our  respectable  farmers  should  not  display  some 
evidences  of  taste,  as  well  as  those  of  professional  men,  or  per- 
sons in  m.ore  affluent  circumstances.  The  farmers  are  really 
the  most  independent  men  in  our  community,  as  their  wealth 
is  less  liable  to  fluctuation  than  that  of  any  other  class  ;  and  if 
the  amount  which  they  wish  to  expend  upon  a  dwelling  is  less 
than  that  within  the  means  of  some  others,  they  are  generally 
able,  on  the  other  hand,  by  having  abundance  of  stone  or  tim- 
ber on  their  own  premises,  to  build  at  a  greatly  reduced  cost. 

Bv  bestowing  some  degree  of  ornament  on  farm-houses,  we 

6 


82  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

shall  hope  to  increase  the  interest  and  attachment,  which  the 
farmer  and  his  family  have  for  their  home,  and  thereby  to  nn- 
prove  his  social  and  domestic  state.  A  man  who  is  content  to 
live  in  a  clumsy,  badly  contrived,  and  uncouth  habitation,  will 
generally  be  found  to  care  little  for  iiis  home,  or  to  have  in  his 
heart  but  a  scanty  flow  of  genial  domestic  syn^kpathies.  This 
love  of  home,  and  with  it  all  the  tender  affections  bound  up  in 
that  endearing  word,  will  be  sure  to  grow  with  every  step  we 
take  to  add  to  its  comforts,  or  increase  its  beauty;  and  if  we 
feel  a  species  of  affection  for  the  goodly  trees  we  have  planted^ 
which,  growing  along  with  us,  seem  like  old  and  familiar  friends, 
we  must  acknowledge  a  still  greater  attachment  to  a  dwelling 
that  we  have  built,  and  which  becomes  our  own  home, — whe- 
ther it  be  a  cottage  or  a  mansion, — if  there  is  an  air  of  taste 
lurking  about  it,  and  breathing  out  from  vine-covered  porch  or 
open  window  casement. 

We  are  especially  anxious  that  the  farmer  should  cultivate  a 
taste  for  improving  his  home,  including  under  this  term  his 
dwelling,  and  his  garden  or  grounds,  as  we  are  confident  that  in 
so  doing  he  will  unconsciously  open  to  himself  and  his  Aimily 
new  sources  of  enjoyment,  beyond  such  as  arc  directly  derived 
from  their  beauty  and  convenience.  It  is  unquestionably  true, 
that  we  learn  to  appreciate  the  beauty  of  nature,  in  proportion 
as  we  become  familiar  with  the  beauty  of  art.  Now,  although 
we  do  not  expect  farmers  to  possess  a  gallery  of  pictures  or 
statuary,  yet  they  have  a  scarcely  less  instructive  field  open  to 
them  while  tastefully  disposing  their  gardens  and  grounds,  in 
studying  the  various  developments  of  beauty  that  occur  and  be- 
come familiar  to  tjic  iniiid  in  tlii'se,  and  all  other  employments, 
unfolding   the   order  and   harmonv   of  a   well   regulated   rural 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  83 

home.  And  we  will  venture  to  assert,  that  no  person,  however 
small  his  original  knowledge,  has  followed  these  occupations 
thoughtfully  for  half  a  dozen  years,  without  having  his  appre- 
ciation of  the  beauty  of  all  nature,  and  especially  the  beauty  oi" 
trees,  forests,  hills,  and  rivers,  a  thousand  fold  increased. 

By  referring  to  the  plan  of  the  principal  floor.  Fig.  32,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  main  building,  30  by  40  feet,  is  two  stories  iu 
height,  and  contains  on  this  floor  a  hall,  a  parlor,  two  bed- 
rooms, and  a  large  pantry.  The  parlor,  or  sitting  room,  is  an 
excellent  apartment,  suitable  for  any  occasion,  and  the  pantry 
being  placed  between  it  and  the  kitchen,  either  of  these  rooms 
may  be  used  to  dine  in ;  while  the  passage,  with  two  doors  be- 
tween the  parlor  and  the  kitchen,  prevents  the  noise  of  the  lat- 
ter from  being  heard  in  the  former. 

The  kitchen,  wash-house,  dairy,  and  wood-house,  on  the  same 
level  with  the  main  building,  are  contained  in  an  L-form  addi- 
tion in  the  rear,  one  story  in  height.  The  kitchen  is  10  feet 
square,  and  opens  also  by  a  back  door,  upon  a  broad  stone  plat- 
form, under  which  the  steps  next  the  main  building  descend  to 
the  cellar.  The  wash-room  is  10  feet  square,  and  has  by  the 
side  of  the  fireplace  a  circular  copper  boiler  set,  for  boiling  the 
clothes.  There  is  a  passage  from  the  wash-room,  communicat- 
ing directly  with  the  wood-house.  The  dairy  may,  if  it  is 
thought  advisable,  be  sunk  three  feet  below  the  level  of  the 
wash-house,  and  paved  with  flag  stones,  in  order  to  keep  it 
cool ;  and  there  may  be  a  raised  shelf  of  stone  all  around  it,  on 
which  to  place  pans  of  milk.  In  this  case  it  would  be  entered 
by  descending  four  or  five  steps.  The  wood-house  has  a  large 
door,  to  facilitate  unloading  from  the  wood  wagons. 


84 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


The  plan  of  the  second  story, 
Fig.  33,  affords  three  good  bed- 
rooms, closets,  (fee,  and  a  small 
bedroom  ;  and  above  this  story 
is  an  ample  garret  for  drying 
various  seeds  and  vegetables. 

The  cellar  is  large,  being  of  the 
same  size  as  the  main  building, 
and  on  the  side  next  the  carriage 
road  should  be  placed  a  slide, 
wide  enough  to  receive  a  cart- 
load of  roots,  which  will  save 
much  labor  and  time  usually 
occupied    in    carrying    them    in  [Fig.  33.] 

baskets. 

This  dwelling  is  supposed  to  be  constructed  of  rough  stone, 
or  stone  partially  smooth  on  the  face,  but  not  laid  in  regular 
courses.  Such  stone  is  abundant  throughout  a  great  portion 
of  the  United  States,  and  makes  excellent  walls. 

We  have  given  the  preference  to  the  Rural  Pointed  style  in 
composing  the  exterior  of  this  dwelling,  partly  on  acccjunt  of 
the  large  lofts  or  garrets,  so  useful  to  the  farmer,  afforded  by 
the  steep  gables  and  roofs,  and  partly  on  account  of  its  intrinsic 
beauty  and  picturesque  effect  when  built  of  stone  even  in  this 
simple  manner.  We  have  introduced  a  veranda  in  the  same 
style  in  front,  because  such  a  feature  is  as  necessary  to  the 
comfort  of  a  farm-house  as  a  villa  in  this  country. 

Where  all  the  outbuildings  are  t(^  be  erected  at  the  same 
time    with    the   dwelling-house,   something  of  the   same  style 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  85 

should  be  evinced  in  the  construction.  It  is  not  necessary,  to 
attain  this,  that  ornamental  verge-boards,  or  windows,  or  other 
minor  details,  should  be  introduced  in  barns  or  the  like  struc- 
tures, but  it  will  be  sufficient  if  attention  is  paid  to  repeating 
the  same  general  forms  in  the  outlines  of  the  buildings,  and  of 
these  the  form  of  the  roof  or  gables  is  most  essential. 

In  some  districts,  wood  is  the  only  material  which  comes 
within  reach  of  the  farmer.  When  this  is  the  case  it  would 
be  better  to  adopt  another  style  for  the  exterior,  of  a  lighter 
character.  We  would  recommend  the  simple  projecting  roof, 
and  the  general  style  of  Design  I.,  omitting  some  of  the  orna- 
mental details.  The  arrangement  of  the  rooms  would  require 
no  material  alteration,  whatever  style  of  architecture  may  be 
adopted  for  the  interior ;  and  a  farm-house  built  in  the  plainest 
manner,  preserving  the  arrangement  exactly,  would  still  have 
all  the  merit  of  this  part  of  the  design,  of  whatever  value  it 
may  be  considered. 

It  is  evident  that  to  some  families  another  parlor,  or  a  com- 
mon eating-room,  but  little  superior  to  the  kitchen,  might  be 
thought  desirable.  This  would  be  easily  obtained  by  convert- 
ing the  rear  bedroom  into  a  dining-room  and  keeping  the 
parlor  (which  is  now  intended  to  serve  the  purpose  of 
dining-room  also)  as  a  show  apartment,  or  best  room.  Such  a 
plan  might  suit  the  fancy  of  those  who  take  pleasure  in  keeping 
the  best  and  most  comfortable  room  in  their  house  shut,  except 
when  they  see  strangers,  but  we  cannot  recommend  it  as  conso- 
nant with  good  taste,  and  that  unaffected,  genuine  hospitality, 
which  ought  to  characterize  "  plain  country  folks." 

Details  of  construction.  The  construction  of  this  building 
will  be  easily  understood  by  merely  inspecting  the  elevation, 


86 


COTTAOK     RESIDENCES. 


its  it  is  extremely  simple.      In  Fig.  34,  the  verge-board   and 

cornice  are  shown  more  in 
detail,  to  the  scale  of  .V  inch 
to  a  foot.  In  this,  a  is  the 
front  view  of  the  top  of  the 
gable,  and  n,  the  profile  or 
section  of  the  same,  p,  is 
the  pendant  which  perfo- 
rates the  ridge  of  the  roof, 
and  terminates  the  gable  by 
[Fig.  34.]  what  is  termed  a  hip  knob, 

(jr  fniial.  The  roof,  in  this  design,  projects  about  a  foot  be- 
yond the  walls  of  the  house.  The  veranda  is  supported  by 
octagonal  posts  or  pillars,  the  openings  between  which  are 
ornamented  at  the  top  by  single  arches  rut  from  2  inch 
plank.  All  the  exterior  wood- work  of  this  building  (except 
sashes  and  doors)  should  be  painted  three  coats  of  the  same 
color  as  the  stone,  or  a  few  shades  lighter,  and  sanded. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  Imilding,  supposing  the  stone 
to  be  found  on  the  farm,  and  all  the  materials  to  be  draw" 
hv  the  farmer,  will  not  exceed  $1700. 


The  Ferme  Ornce,  or  ornainental  portion  of  the  farm. 

The  ferme  ornce  is  a  term  generally  ajiplied  to  a  fiu-m, 
the  whole  or  the  greater  part  of  which  is  rendered  in  some 
degree  ornamental,  by  intersecting  it  with  drives,  and  private 
lanes  and  walks,  bordered  by  trees  and  shrubs,  and  by  the 
neater  arrangement  and  culture  of  the  fields.  But  it  may 
also  be  applied  to  a  farm  with  a  tasteful    farm-house,  and  so 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  87 

much  of  the  ground  about  it  rendered  ornamental,  as  would 
naturally  meet  the  eye  of  the  stranger,  in  approaching  it  the 
first  time. 

It  is  evident  that  the  farm  proper,  in  the  present  case, 
may  consist  of  50  or  500  acres.  We  have  only  shown  in 
the  annexed  engraving,  Fig.  35,  a  plan  of  a  few  acres  imme- 
diately surrounding  the  house,  and  consisting  of  the  entrance 
law^n  a,  about  one  and  a  quarter  acres,  bordering  the  entrance 
road  or  approach  h;  the  orchard  c,  the  kitchen  garden  d, 
adjoining  fields,  in  grass  or  under  the  plough  e,  and  the  yard 
for  the  out-buildings/. 

At  g,  is  shown  the  house,  and  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen, 
wash-house,  &c.,  is  the  kitchen  yard  h.  The  out-buildings, 
or  farmery,  are  arranged  around  three  sides  of  a  square,  open 
to  the  south,  and  consist  of  the  piggery  j,  the  tool-house 
communicating  with  the  garden  k,  open  shed  for  carts,  ploughs, 
&c.,  I,  cow-house  with  three  calf-pens  attached  at  the  end 
m,  barn  n,  stable  for  horses  o,  wagon-house  p,  and  corn  crib 
q.  The  surface  of  the  yard  descends  sHghtly  on  all  sides  to 
the  centre  /,  where  the  manure  heap  is  kept.  This  collection 
of  out-buildings  is  much  more  complete  and  extensive  than 
will  be  found  connected  with  most  farms  in  this  country,  but 
we  have  given  it  with  a  view  of  exhibiting  what  ought  to 
be  aimed  at  as  a  desideratum  in  accommodation,  on  every 
extensive  farm ;  and  it  will  be  found  easy  to  diminish  the 
amount  of  buildings  and  sheds  to  as  many  as  would  occupy 
only  one  side  of  the  yard,  if  the  farm  be  small,  or  to  such 
a  number  as  can  be  afforded. 

This  plan  will  require  but  little  description,  as  the  orna- 
mental   grounds  have  no  intricacy  of  detail.      The    effect  of 


COTTAGE     BESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  35.] 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  89 

the  view  from  the  house  across  the  entrance  lawn  a,  would 
be  pleasing,  and  its  expression  would  be  that  of  simply  natu- 
ral or  pastoral  beauty.  The  trees  might  be  of  the  finest 
native  species,  selected  from  the  woods  on  the  farm,  as  nothing 
is  more  beautiful  than  our  fine  drooping  Elms,  Tulip  trees, 
Oaks,  and  Ashes.  Or  some  additional  interest  may  be  given 
to  the  place,  by  introducing  a  few  Horse  Chestnuts  or  Euro- 
pean Lindens,  around  the  house  and  along  the  approach. 
The  trees  we  would  plant  in  natural  groups,  as  indicated  on 
the  plan,  as  this  would  not  only  evince  a  more  cultivated 
taste  in  a  farmer  than  straight  lines,  but  it  would  also  add 
to  the  apparent  extent  of  the  whole  area  devoted  to  orna- 
mental trees,  by  giving  it  an  irregular  and  varied  boundary 
of  foliage. 

This  acre  and  a  quarter  devoted  to  ornament,  may  also 
be  rendered  profitable ;  1st,  by  mowing  the  grass  over  the 
whole  surface  ;  or  secondly,  by  keeping  it  short,  by  pastur- 
ing it  with  favorite  animals.  In  the  case  of  mowing,  when 
no  animals  are  admitted,  a  few  flowering  shrubs  and  plants 
may  be  cultivated  directly  around  the  house.  But  if  it  is 
preferred  to  pasture  the  area,  it  would  be  necessary  to  con- 
fine all  small  shrubs  and  plants  to  a  certain  portion  of  the 
kitchen  garden  devoted  to  this  purpose. 

There  are  some  farmers  who  would  be  willing  to  devote 
an  acre  around  their  house  to  some  kind  of  lawn,  or  purpose 
'superior  to  a  common  field,  who  are  yet  not  sufficiently  alive 
to  the  beauty  and  dignity  of  fine  forest  trees,  to  be  willing 
to  plant  the  latter.  Such  may  substitute  fruit  for  forest  trees, 
and  even  arrange  them  in  the  same  manner,  planting  those 
most  symmetrical  and    pleasing  in  their  forms,  as  the  cherry 


90  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

and  pear,  near  the  house  and  the  Approach  ;  and  tliose  which 
are  unsightly  in  growth,  nearest  the  boundary. 

The  beauty  of  a  ferme  ornce  will  be  greatly  enhanced  by 
introducing  verdant  hedges,  in  the  place  of  stone  or  wooden 
fences,  at  least  in  all  situations  near  the  house.  The  best 
plant  to  be  had  in  the  nurseries  for  this  purpose,  is  the  Buck- 
thorn (Rlirn/nius  cathartiai),  a  native  shrub,  much  hardier 
and  better  than  the  English  hawthorn  for  our  climate.  Al- 
most any  of  our  native  thorns  in  the  woods  make  good 
hedges,  and  the  farmer  may  gather  the  seeds,  and  raise 
them  himself.  South  of  the  latitude  of  New  York  city,  the 
best  hedge  plant  is  the  Osage  Orange  {Madura  aurantiaca). 
If  the  ground  is  previously  well  prepared  by  repeated 
ploughings  and  manuring,  and  proper  care  is  taken  to  head 
back  the  young  plants  the  first  year  or  two  to  make  a  thick 
bottom,  and  to  trim  them  twice  a  year  afterwards,  an  excel- 
lent hedge  may  be  obtained  in  five  years.  No  person,  we 
liope,  who  has  once  seen  a  handsome  deep  green  hedge, 
forming  a  dense  close  surface,  enlivened  with  bhjssoms  in  the 
spring,  and  berries  in  the  autun)n,  will  grudge  the  little  an- 
nual care  necessary  to  substitute  this  for  at  least  a  small  }tart 
of  his  unsightly  wall,  or  "  post  and  rail." 

Wooden  and  stone  fences  near  the  house,  may  be  rendered 
ornamental  by  planting  the  Virginia  creeper  (Ampelopsis),  or 
five-leaved  ivy,  at  short  distances  along  the  fence.  This  vine 
is  common  over  a  large  portion  of  the  Union,  and  will  quickly* 
form  a  beautiful  mantle  of  verdure,  concealing  the  wall  in 
summer  with  its  rich  and  luxuriant  green,  and  in  autumn 
with  its  bright  scarlet  foliage. 

When    the  eye  commands  from  the    house  a  view  beyond 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


91 


the  ornamental  lawn,  the  latter  may  be  pleasingly  connected 
by  planting  or  preserving,  here  and  there,  in  the  adjoining 
fields,  a  few  of  the  same  forest  trees  that  are  growing  on 
the  lawn,  thus  avoiding  too  strongly  marked  a  contrast  be- 
tween the  latter  area  and  the  farm  lands,  and  showing  some- 
thing of  a  unity  of  design  or  purpose. 

The  orchard  near  the  house  is  an  apple  orchard,  and  we 
give  a  selection  of  one  hundred  trees  for  the  purpose  of  planting 
it  with  the  most  valuable  sorts,  including  a  number  of  sweet 
apples,  for  feeding  stock. 

Ripens  in 

2.  Early  Bough,  August. 

2.  Yellow  Harvest,  July. 

2.  Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Nov.  Feb. 

4.  Boston  Russet,  May. 

6.  Fall  Pippin,  Sept.  Dec. 

8.  Jersey  Sweet,  Aug.  Nov. 

2.  Jonathan,  Dec.  Feb. 

6.  Baldwin,  Nov.  May. 

2.  Lady  Apple,  Nov.  March. 
4.  Golden  Pippin,  Dec.  Feb. 

6.  Ladies'  Sw^eeting,  Nov.  March. 

8.  Newtown  Pippin,  Dec.  May. 

3.  Golden  Sweeting,  Sept.  Oct. 
8.  Rhode  Island  Greening,  Nov.  March. 
2.  Summer  Paradise,  Aug.  Sept. 

4.  Swaar,  Dec.  March. 
8.  Yellow  Belle  Fleur,  Oct.  Jan. 

4.  Pearmain,  Nov.  March. 

4.  Michael  Henry  Pippin,  Nov.  March. 

2.  Dominie,  Nov.  March. 

2.  Hubardston  Nonsuch,  Dec.  March. 

2.  Gravenstein,  Sept.  Oct. 

4.  Northern  Spy,  Feb.  May. 

4.  Porter,  Sept.  Oct. 


92  COTTAGF.     RESFDEXCES. 


D  E  S  I  Ci  N   V. 

.1  cottage-villa  in  the  Bracketted  mode. 

We  trust  that  the  exterior  of  this  villa  will  generally  please, 
as  although  it  is  simple  in  form,  we  have  endeavored  to  add  to 
its  domestic,  comfortable  air,  a  more  forcible  and  elegant  ex- 
pression than  rectangular  buildings  generally  possess.  The 
strongly  marked  character  which  it  has,  is  derived  mainly  from 
the  bold  projection  of  the  roof  supported  by  ornamental 
brackets,  and  from  the  employment  of  brackets  for  supports,  in 
various  other  parts  of  the  building. 

This  bracketted  mode  of  building,  so  simple  in  construction, 
and  so  striking  in  effect,  will  be  found  highly  suitable  to  North 
America,  and  especially  to  the  southern  states.  The  coolness 
and  dryness  of  the  upper  story,  afforded  by  the  almost  veranda- 
like roof,  will  render  this  a  delightful  feature  in  all  j)arts  of  our 
country,  where  the  summers  are  hot,  and  the  sun  very  bright 
during  the  long  days  of  that  season.  Indeed,  we  think  a  very 
ingenious  architect  might  produce  an  American  cottage  style, 
by  carefully  studying  the  capabilities  of  this  mode,  so  aboimding 
in  picturesqueness,  and  so  easily  executed. 

In  actual  fitness  for  domestic  purposes,  in  this  country,  we 
think  this  bracketted  mode  has  much  to  recommend  it.  It  is 
admirably  adapted  to  the  two  kinds  of  construction  which  must, 
for  some  time,  be  the  most  prevalent  in  the   United  States — 


DESIGN  V. 

A  COTTAGE  VILLA.  IN  THK  BRACKETED  MODE. 


Fig    3'3. 


FLOOR 


Fig     37. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  93 

wood,  and  brick  covered  by  cement.  Its  comparative  lightness 
of  character  renders  it  well  suited  for  wood,  and  the  protection 
afforded  by  the  projection  of  the  roof,  will  give  complete  secur- 
ity and  dryness  to  the  walls,  rendering  good  stucco  or  cement 
in  such  a  situation  as  durable  as  stone.  The  facility  of  its  con- 
struction is  an  additional  circumstance  in  its  favor,  as  the  details 
are  extremely  simple — the  ornamental  brackets,  which  are  the 
principal  features  of  decoration,  being  cut  out  of  pine  or  oak 
plank,  two  inches  thick,  and  one  or  two  patterns  serving  for  the 
whole  exterior. 

Extending  the  roof  in  the  manner  shown  in  this  design,  gives 
expression  and  character  at  once  to  the  exterior,  and  the  broad 
and  deep  shadows  thrown  by  the  projection  are  not  only  effect- 
ive and  pleasing  to  the  artistical  eye,  but  they  increase  the  actual 
comfort  of  the  chamber  apartments  ;  a  projection  of  from  20 
inches  to  three  feet,  serving  as  a  hood  to  shelter  the  windows 
from  the  summer  sun  during  all  the  sultry  portion  of  the  day  ; 
while  in  winter,  the  sun  being  low  in  position,  this  effect  will 
not  be  felt,  when  it  is  not  desirable. 

On  entering  the  hall  (see  plan  of  principal  floor,  Fig.  37), 
we  find  on  the  left  an  oval  dining,  or  living  room,  lighted  by  a 
large  and  handsome  window  on  the  side,  and  another  in  front  ; 
the  latter  finished  with  a  window-seat.  There  are  two  pan- 
tries, or  closets,  in  this  room,  in  the  spaces  formed  by  the  ovals 
in  front,  and  the  opposite  end  of  the  room  may  be  finished 
with  shallow  closets  for  plate,  glass,  or  valuable  ehina.  At  the 
opposite  end  of  this  room,  is  a  door  opening  into  the  passage 
6,  which  communicates  with  the  stairs  to  the  kitchen  (under  the 
main  stairs),  and  also  with  the  open  air,  by  the  door  on  the 
veranda.  At  the  left  of  this  passage  is  the  water-closet 
(W.  C). 


94  COTTAGK     RESIDENCES. 

On  the  opposite  side  is  tlie  parlor  or  (Iraniiig-room,  occupy- 
ing the  \\hnle  sj)acc,  18  by  XJ(>  feot.  This  room  is  of  very 
handsome  size,  and  if  well  finished  would  make  a  splendid 
apartment.  The  ceiling  should  he  13  or  14  feet  high,  and 
might  be  supported  by  a  bracketted  cornice,  tastefully  exe- 
cuted in  jtlastci',  to  harmonize  with  the  character  of  the  exte- 
rior. Our  own  taste  would  lead  us  to  prefer  greatly,  in  all 
cases,  the  simplicity  and  dignity  of  a  single  large  apartment 
of  this  kind  in  the  country,  to  two  apartments  connected  by 
folding  or  sliding  doors.  In  the  latter,  the  single  room,  con- 
sidered by  itself,  is  comparatively  of  no  importance,  because  it  is 
evidently  only  one  half  of  the  architect's  idea,  and  the  coup 
d'ail  of  the  whole  is  greatly  injured,  by  the  partition  still  re- 
maining, after  the  doors  are  open.  A  large  room  like  this 
drawing-room,  will,  on  the  contrary,  be  a  complete  whole  in 
itself,  and  regarding  its  eflect  either  with  or  without  company, 
it  will  be  found  much  more  satisfactory  than  that  of  the  two 
smaller  ones  connected.  Access  to  the  veranda  from  this 
room,  is  aflorded  by  the  window  at  its  further  end,  r,  which  is 
a  casement-window  opening  to  the  floor,  and  may  therefore  be 
used  as  a  door. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  a  door  opens  into  the  libiary,  IS  l)y  20 
feet,  which  is  a  co(»l,  airy  apartment,  shaded  by  the  veranda 
that  surrounds  it  on  three  sides.  It  communicates  directly 
with  the  drawing-room  by  one  door,  and  with  the  passage  h, 
leading  to  the  veranda,  by  anotiier. 

On  the  second  floor  are  five  bedrooms,  Fig.  38.  The  two 
bedrooms  on  the  right  being  connected  by  a  door,  one  of 
them  may  be  used  as  a  nursery,  and  the  (tther  as  a  family  bed- 
room.    Three   bedrooms   for  servants  mav  be  finished   in  the 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 


95 


attic  story,  whicli  \vill  be 
lighted  by  the  windows  in  the 
gable.  There  is  a  handsome 
balcony,  which  is  entered  upon 
from  the  casement-window,  at 
the  end  of  the  hall  in  this  story, 
shaded  by  the  broad  overhang- 
ing roof,  and  two  other  balconies 
which  accompany,  in  a  similar 
manner,  the  large  windows  in 
the  two  principal  bedrooms  on 
either  side  of  this  hall.  These 
two  lartje  w^indows  are  each 
composed    of   three    compart- 


6  EC. 


FLOOR 

[Fig.  38.] 

ments,  and  the  middle  compartment  of  that  on  the  right,  against 
which  the  partition  of  the  nm'sery  abuts,  is  made  solid  on  the 
inside,   M'hich  still    gives    one 


window,  or  compartment  of 
moderate  size,  for  each  room. 
The  basement  accommodation. 
Fig.  39,  consists  of  a  kitchen, 
laundry,  store-room,  and  cellar. 
The  basement  story  is  raised 
about  three  and  a  half  feet 
above  ground,  with  areas  built 
around  the  windows,  to  admit 
an  abundance  of  light.  The 
outer  entrance  to  this  story  is 
by  the  steps  descending  under 


BASEMENT. 

[Fig.  39.] 


the  veranda,  indicated  on  the  left  of  this  plan. 


90  COTTAGE     nESIDENCES. 

The  cliimneys  in  tliis  elevation  are  bold  and  striking,  and 
show  what  wniild  he  in  good  keeping  with  the  style  of  the 
house.  Their  construction  is  simple.  They  are  each  covered 
on  the  top  hy  two  flat  coping  stones,  of  bold  projection,  the 
smoke  escaping  on  two  sides  (Fig.  42).  Chimneys  built  in 
this  manner  are  much  more  likely  to  draw  well  than  those  with 
an  open  top,  in  the  common  mode.  This  form,  however,  is  not 
by  any  means  essential,  and  square  flues  in  a  body,  with  a  bold 
cornice  supported  <»n  l)ricks  projecting  as  brackets,  or  separate 
detached  flues  carried  up  in  clusters,  with  heavy  tops,  would 
also  be  suitable  for  a  building  in  this  style. 

Variation  of  this  design,  as  constructed  in  tcood.  Tiie  fore- 
going engravings  being  in  illustration  of  this  design,  as  built 
of  solid  materials,  we  introduce  another  elevation,  Fig.  40,  to 
show  its  appearance  constructed  of  wood.  The  common 
mode  of  siding  is  sutTiciently  well  understood  by  every  one, 
but  in  this  elevation  a  less  general  mode  is  shown,  which  con- 
sists in  tongue  and  grooving  the  boards,  nailing  them  vertically 
on  the  frame,  and  covering  the  joint  by  a  strip  one  to  two 
inches  wide.  We  suggest  this  mode  as  a  variation,  as  it  makes 
a  very  warm  and  dry  house,  and  the  elTect  is  good.  Fig.  45 
is  a  section  to  the  scale  of  half  an  inch  to  a  foot,  siiowing  this 
kind  of  siding. 

There  are,  perhaps,  some  families  who  would  much  prefer  a 
bedroom,  to  the  library  in  our  previous  plan  of  the  principal 
floor.  We  have,  in  the  annexed  Fig.  41,  shown  how  this  wing, 
originally  intended  for  a  lil)rary,  may,  by  a  little  variation  in 
the  plan,  be  made  to  all'ord  a  pleasant  bedroom,  with  a  closet 
adjoining,  and  a  juetty  little  boudoir  opening  either  into  the 
bedroom  or  the  drawing-room,  as  may  be  thought   best.     If 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCE?. 


97 


[Fig.  40.] 


[Fip.  4J.J 


98 


COTTAGE     UESIDENCES. 


this  variation  should  be  preferred  to  the  original  plan  of  this 
floor,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  carry  through  the  partitions 
introduced  in  this  wing,  which  will  make  a  similar  alteration  in 
the  plan  of  the  second  and  basement  stories  so  easily  under- 
stood, that  it  will  not  require  any  further  plans  in  illustration. 

Details.  A  portion  of  the  porch  in 
Fiff.  43,  shows  the  manner  of  orna- 
meriting  this  part  of  the  building  by 
brackets.  Four  varieties  of  brackets, 
suitable  for  the  roof  supports  of  build- 
ings in  this  style,  are  seen  in  the  ac- 
companying Fig.  44,  In  this  engrav- 
ing, drawn  to  the  scale  of  half  an  inch 
to  a  foot,  A,  represents  the  boldest  form,  ^ 
suitable   for  the  corners   or   angles  of  [Fig.  k.] 

building ;  b,  one  of  lesser  size,  pro- 
per for  the  projection  of  the  gables  ; 
c  is  another  variation,  employed  in  the 
bold  projection  of  the  gable  in  front, 
over  the  porch,  and  n,  is  a  form  em- 
ployed for  eave  brackets,  when  it  is 
thought  advisable  to  continue  them 
"T-"-^  along  the  whole  line  of  roof,  as  in  the 
next  desifjn.     In  the  following  engrav- 


[Fig.  43.J  ing,  a  represents  a  moulding,  and  b  the 

roof  and  cornice  above  the  bracket.  The  most  complete  mode 
would  undoubtedly  be  to  employ  cut-stone  brackets  in  a  build- 
ing like  this  composed  of  stone  or  solid  materials  ;  but  if  made 
of  good  sound  wood,  and  thoroughly  painted  and  sanded  to 
resemble  the  stone  or  stucco,  it  will  answer  nearly  as  well. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 


99 


[Fig.  44.] 


<]Wh 


In  Fig.  45,  is  seen  a  section  of  the  mode 
I'.,.-,"  (if  siding,  alluded  to  in  our  variation  of  this 
[Fig.  45.]  design  in  ivood,  which  needs  no  further  ex- 

planation. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  supports  to  the  veranda  in  the 
rear  of  this  dwelling,  are  simple,  octagonal  posts,  ornamented 
with  brackets  at  the  top,  and  that  the  brackets  being  a 
characteristic  feature  in  this  style  or  mode,  it  is  introduced 
wherever  a  support  is  realh^  or  apparently  necessary,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  balconies  to  the  windows,  etc.  And  in  a  build- 
ing in  this  mode,  the  unity  of  design  should  be  further  pre- 
served, by  carrying  out  the  boldness  of  character  in  all  portions 
of  the  building,  by  projecting  the  roofs,  verandas,  porches,  etc., 
in  a  proportionate  degree,  and  by  introducing  few  and  bold 
mouldings  and  ornaments. 

Some  character  is  given  to  the  roof  in  this  design,  by  em- 
ploying shingles  of  an  uniform  size,  and  rounding  the  lower 
ends  before  laying  them  on  the  roof.* 

*  The  principle  of  expression  of  purpose,  demands  that  the  roofs  of  buildings 
should  be  shown,  and  rendered  ornamental.     In  snow-y  countries,  especially,  a 


100  ■  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

We  have  designated  a  water-closet  in  this  design.  A  water- 
closet  does  not  actually  require  a  space  larger  than  3  by  4  or  o 
feet,  and  it  may  therefore  be  introduced  in  the  first  or  second 
story  of  almost  every  house,  although  we  have  only  shown  it 
in  two  or  three  of  these  designs.  If  properly  constructed,  and 
ts  accompanying  cistern  kept  supplied  with  water,  it  will  be 
found  entirely  free  from  odors  of  any  kind,  and  therefore  a 
very  great  desideratum  in  every  house.  Th^  l)etter  way  is  to 
employ  a  first  rate  plumber  iVom  the  city  to  fit  it  up  complete- 
ly while  the  house  is  in  progress.  In  order  to  explain  the 
principle  of  its  construction  we  extract  the  following  descrip- 
tion of  one  of  a  simple  and  very  efiicient  kind  from  the  Eji- 
cyclopcedia  of  Cottage,  Farm,  and  Villa  Architecture,  p.  18. 

"  The  water-closet  may  be  variously  arranged  ;  but  as  one 
of  the  best  and  cheapest  modes,  and  one  the  least  likely  to 
go  out  of  order,  we  give  the  following :  The  cistern,  Fig.  46, 
a  may  be  at  any  distance  from  the  seat  h,  provided  it  be  on  a 
higher  level,  by  four  or  five  feet.  The  basin  c,  may  be  an  in- 
verted hollow  cone,  truncated,  and  joined  to  a  piece  of  cy- 
lindrical tube,  inserted  in  a  closed  leaden  vessel,  technically 
called  a  smell-trap  d.  In  the  side  of  c,  at  e,  is  a  hole  or  verti- 
cal opening  passing  obliquely  through  the  sides  of  the  basin  and 
communicating  with  the  cistern  a,  by  the  pipe/.  The  water  in 
the  cistern  is  prevented  from  running  off  through  this  pipe  by  a 

moderately  steep  roof  is  necessary  to  sustain  the  pressure,  and  shed  the  snow 
perfectly,  and  it  should  always,  therefore,  be  boldly  exposed,  and  rendered  orna- 
mental in  domestic  architecture.  Some  of  our  builders  seem  to  havr  a  farcical 
horror  of  a  roof,  or  a  chimney  top  (derived  from  the  study  of  Greek  temples  !), 
and  conceal  both,  by  costly  and  elaborate  balustrades  and  parapets,  in  many 
cases  at  an  expense  suHicient,  if  juiiiciously  a|)plicd,  to  have  given  a  superior 
character  to  the  whole  building. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


101 


[Fig.  40.] 


nicely  fitting  valve  at  g.  When  it  is 
desired  to  allow  the  water  to  rush 
down  into  the  basin,  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  pull  the  string  h ;  which,  if  the 
cistern  be  at  a  distance,  may  pass 
over  several  pulleys,  according  to  the 
number  of  angles  in  its  course.  In 
order  to  insure  the  descent  of  a  quan- 
tity of  water  to  the  basin  every  time 
it  has  been  used,  a  cord  i,  may  be 
joined  to  li,  and  passed  over  the  pulley 
at  li,  and  the  end  of  this  cord  may  be 
fixed  to  the  upper  part  of  the  door  of 
the  water-closet,  at  such  a  distance 
from  the  hinge,  say  a  foot,  as  will  suffice  to  lift  up  the  valve  g ; 
or  the  same  purpose  might  be  effected  by  a  lever  which  would 
be  acted  upon  every  time  the  door  was  opened.  In  every  case 
where  it  is  intended  that  a  common  or  lever  valve  should  be 
operated  on  by  a  door,  the  latter  ought  to  have  a  spring-bolt 
to  shut  it,  lest  at  any  time  it  should  be  left  open  by  neglect." 
There  are  several  late  improvements  in  water-closets  now  to  be 
had  of  the  best  plumbers  in  New  York.  The  waste  pipe  from 
the  water-closet  should  leave  the  house  by  a  properly  fitted  un- 
der-ground drain,  and  should  either  terminate  in  a  covered  drain 
or  sewer,  at  a  considerable  distance,  or  in  a  well  or  cistern  for 
liquid  manure,  the  contents  of  which  may  be  turned  to  valuable 
account. 

Estimate.  This  cottage-villa  may  be  built  of  brick  and 
stucco  or  of  wood,  in  the  best  manner,  at  a  cost  of  about  $5500, 
With  cut  free-stone  trimmings  it  would  cost  $6000. 


102  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

Laying  out  the  ground. 

The  situation  for  \\\\w\\  this  cottage  is  designed  borders  the 
pubHc  road,  and  contains  about  two  acres,  whicli  are  nearly 
level.  At  the  back  of  the  garden.  Fig.  47,  is  a  steep  hill  a, 
the  side  covered  with  trees,  which  is  ascended  by  a  walk  h, 
leading  to  a  rustic  summer-house  on  the  top  at  c,  from  whence 
a  prospect  of  the  surrounding  country  is  obtained. 

The  house  is  at  d,  and  the  ol)jects  in  laying  out  the  ground 
were  to  create  an  airy,  cheerful  aspect  around  the  house,  es- 
pecially in  front ;  to  preserve  a  view  of  the  steep  picturesque 
hill  from  the  veranda  in  the  rear,  and  with  the  appearance  of 
a  ffood  deal  of  ornamental  effect  to  retain  about  one  acre,  or 
nearly  half  the  level  ground,  for  a  kitchen  garden  e,  and  a  fruit 
garden  /. 

In  order  to  give  an  air  of  some  extent  and  elegance  about 
the  house,  the  whole  surface  in  this  neighborhood,  not  devoted 
to  the  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens,  is  laid  doAvn  in  lawn  g,  to  be 
kept  neatly  mown  ;  with  the  exception  of  the  long  borders  A, 
devoted  to  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  flowers  ;  the  circular 
beds,  filled  with  verbenas,  j)etunias,  and  monthly  roses,  three 
plants  which  will  i)looni  the  whole  sunimer,  and  have  a  brilliant 
effect  from  the  drawing-room  windows  ;  and  the  two  beds  j  fdled 
with  choice  double- Dahlias.  In  the  turf  is  planted  a  number  of 
the  finest  species  of  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs,  some  being 
allowed  to  grow  alone  and  assume  all  their  beauty  of  develop- 
ment, and  others  planted  in  groups,  or  thickets,  for  effect  or 
shelter.  The  novice  will  be  assisted  in  niidiing  a  selection  of 
these  trees  and  shrubs,  by  referring  to  the  list  given  at  page  74. 
Some  of  the  less  hardy  and  robust  of  these  trees  and  shrubs. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


103 


^%f 


a^s 


[Fig.  47.J 


lot  COTTAflE     RF,?1DE\CE3. 

being  planted  in  groups  in  this  way,  will  require  that  the  sur- 
face around  each  tree  f«»r  a  small  area  of  about  two  feet  in 
diameter  be  kept  loose  by  culture  to  promote  their  growth, 
until  they  attain  considerable  size. 

The  entrance  gate  is  shown  at  A-,  and  there  is  a  large  oval 
of  turf,  around  which  to  tum  carriages  immediately  before 
the  door.  The  carriage  road  /,  after  approaching  the  entrance 
to  the  kitchen  for  the  convenience  of  delivering  heavy  arti- 
cles, leads  to  the  carriage-house  m,  adjoining  which  are  the 
barn  and  stable  n,  and  the  stable  yard  o,  the  latter  commu- 
nicating directly  with  the  public  road  by  the  lane  p. 

The  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens  are  enclosed  on  three  sides 
by  hedges  of  the  privet  or  prim,  a  rapid  growing  plant  which 
forms  a  thick  hedge  in  three  years,  has  neat  foliage  and 
flowers,  and  is  easily  cultivated  from  slips  or  cuttings  planted 
in  March  or  April.  These  verdant  fences  will  scarcely  ap- 
pear barriers,  and  a  spectator  standing  on  the  veranda  in  the 
rear  of  the  house,  and  looking  over  the  open,  oval  lawn  g, 
bordered  by  the  flower  borders,  and  these  backed  by  the  deep 
green  hedges,  W(»uld  scarcely  be  impressed  with  that  idea 
of  confinement  which  this  moderate  space  would  otherwise 
convey. 

A  detached  green-house  is  shown  at  r,  which,  like  the 
dwelling-house,  fronts  due  south.  This  green-house  is  14  feet 
wide  })y  40  feet  long,  and  has  a  lean-to,  or  shed,  at  the  rear, 
which  afl'ords  a  cover  for  the  furnace,  with  a  jilace  for  fuel, 
and  a  long  narrow  apartment  for  a  gardener's  seed  room, 
tool  room,  or  work  room,  the  latter  being  a  place  absolutely 
necessary  in  every  residence  of  the  size  of  half  an  acre,  if 
appropriated  to  ornamental  purposes.     Not  only  the  front,  but 


0«TTAGE    RESIDENCES.  105 

also  both  tlie  ends  of  this  green-house  should  be  glazed,  as 
the  sun  will  then,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  shine  on  all  sides. 
In  the  middle  or  eastern  states,  where  the  winters  are  severe, 
it  will  be  found  a  great  economy  of  both  fuel  and  labor,  to 
have  light  shutters  made  for  all  the  sashes  in  a  green-house 
detached  like  this  one.  When  the  sun  is  shining  the  shutters 
can  be  speedily  removed,  and  in  cold  dull  days,  and  at  night, 
the  glass  may  be  kept  covered,  which  will  prevent  the  house 
from  losing  its  heat  rapidly.  No  green-house  in  this  country, 
where  even  the  wintry  sun  is  brilliant,  will  require  a  particle 
of  fire  while  the  sun  shines,  and  by  the  aid  of  shutters  we 
may  preserve  the  warmth  of  the  green-house,  collected  during 
the  afternoon,  through  a  considerable  portion,  and  often  the 
whole  of  the  night 

The  hill  side  a,  in  its  original  state,  was  sprinkled  over 
with  trees,  tufts  of  grass,  ferns,  etc.,  and  was  disfigured  by 
the  presence  of  a  number  of  rough  piles  of  rock.  In  order 
to  render  them  ornamental,  a  quantity  of  hardy  climbers,  as 
the  Trumpet  vine  (Bignonia),  the  coral  or  trumpet  Honey- 
suckles, the  double  flowering  Bramble,  and  the  Virginia 
creeper,  may  be  planted  at  the  foot  and  among  these  rocks, 
and  they  will  in  two  or  three  seasons  render  them  highly 
picturesque  by  enwreathing  them  with  beautiful  garlands  of 
foliage  and  flowers. 

As  the  lawn  will  be  a  great  source  of  beauty  in  all  places 
of  this  kind,  it  is  important  that  attention  should  be  paid  to 
this  feature  early  in  the  preparation  of  the  grounds.  No 
lawn  will  retain  its  freshness  and  verdure  throughout  our  hot 
summers,  unless  particular  attention  is  paid  to  two  circum- 
stances.    The  first  of  these  is  the  preparation  of  a  deep  soil 


10(5  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

before  it  is  sown,  or  laid  clown  in  grass — the  second  consists 
in  frequent  mowings.  When  there  is  a  large  surface  to  be 
kejit  in  lawn,  the  soil  may  be  rendered  suitable  by  manuring 
and  ploughing  thoroughly  beforehand  with  the  sub-soil  plough, 
or  by  going  through  the  same  furrow  three  times  in  ploughing 
the  soil.  When  the  area  is  small,  it  may  be  trenched  with 
the  spade.  The  roots  of  the  grasses  strike  much  deeper  in 
a  mellow  j)re})arcd  soil,  than  j)ersons  are  generally  aware, 
and  are  thereby  enabled  to  withstand  a  severe  drought,  when, 
if  sown  in  the  ordinary  mode,  they  would  have  dried  up  and 
the  foliage  become  brown  in  a  short  time.  A  rich  soil  for  a 
lawn  is  not  desirable,  but  rather  a  deep  one  capable  of  re- 
taining moisture  for  a  long  time.  Wood  ashes  will  be 
found  an  excellent  top-dressing  for  invigorating  a  worn-out 
lawn. 

Frequent  mowing  is  necessary  to  insure  that  velvet-like 
appearance,  so  much  admired  in  English  lawns.  To  perform 
this  operation  neatly,  the  mower  must  be  provided  with  a 
scythe,  the  blade  of  which  is  very  broad,  and  hung  nearly 
parallel  to  the  surface  of  the  lawn  ;  and  the  mowing  should 
always  be  performed,  if  possible,  after  a  shower,  or  a  heavy 
dew^,  while  the  grass  is  yet  dan)p.  The  best  mixture  of  grass 
seeds  in  use  among  us,  and  to  be  had  at  our  seed  shops,  is 
the  same  as  composes  the  natural  growth  of  our  commons 
and  the  turf  by  the  road  sides,  viz.  Red  top  and  white  Clo- 
ver (Agrestis  vulgai'is  and  Trifolium  rejyens).  They  should 
be  sown  thickly  for  a  lawn,  at  the  rate  of  four  bushels  to 
the  acre.* 

•Mr.  Loudon  recommends  the  following  mixture  of  grasses  for  a  lawn;  viz. 
A^restia  vulgaris  rar.  tenuifulia,  Fisltica  duritiscrila,  F.  ovina,  Ct/nusunis  cris- 
talus,  Poa  pratensis,  Avenajlaveactns,  :md  Trifolium  minus. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  107 

The  five  circular  beds  i,  are  supposed  to  be  each  10  or 
15  feet  in  diameter,  and  cut  in  the  turf.  It  is  proposed  to 
fill  these  with  plants,  each  bed  with  the  same  genus,  and 
cultivate  them  in  such  a  manner  that,  when  full  grown,  they 
shall  cover  the  whole  surface  of  the  bed.  They  will  then 
present  a  mass  of  rich  leaves  and  blossoms,  and  the  raw 
earth  not  being  seen,  these  beds  will  connect  themselves  much 
more  harmoniously  with  the  surrounding  turf  or  lawn,  than 
if  only  partially  covered  with  plants.  Nothing  is  more  un- 
sightly than  raw  flower  beds  near  the  windows  of  the  house, 
in  midsummer,  and  we  therefore  greatly  prefer  the  beauty 
of  a  few  rich  circles  or  groups  like  these,  to  the  lean  and 
parched  appearance  which  long  beds  of  miscellaneous  flowers 
exhibit  when  placed  in  direct  proximity  to  the  dwelling. 

The  trailing  Verbenas  and  Petunias  are  very  showy  plants, 
blooming  perpetually  during  the  whole  season,  and  are  therefore 
admirably  adapted  to  this  purpose.  As  they  will  not  stand 
our  winters,  they  must  be  treated  as  annuals ;  or  preserved 
by  taking  small  plants  up  in  pots,  in  autumn,  and  keeping 
them  in  the  green-house  or  a  frame,  planting  them  out  again 
in  April.     The  following  varieties  are  recommended : 

Verbenas  Tweediana,  grandiflora.         Petunia  Hebe. 

chamedri  folia.  Groomii. 

Wilson's  scarlet.  Beaute  parfail. 

Alba  Jloribunda.  Timandra. 

Royal  Purple.  '    Gem. 

Flambeau.  Lady  Alice  Peel. 
Queen. 
Bridemaid. 


108 


COTTAGK     RESIDEXCES. 


A  great  number  of  beautiful  montbly  roses,  including  the 
Noisettes,  the  common  China,  or  Bengal,  and  the  Tea  aiul  the 
Bourbon  varieties,  may  be  procured  in  the  nurseries.  These 
require  a  rich  loamy  soil,  where  they  will  bloom  in  great  pro- 
fusion all  the  summer,  and  until  winter  frosts  overtake  them. 
The  Bourbon  roses  are  especially  remarkable  for  the  size,  the 
abundance,  fragrance,  and  the  beauty  of  their  blossoms.  The 
following  selection  includes  some  of  the  most  desirable  sorts,  all 
everblooming  or  monthly. 


BOURBON   ROSES.  NOISETTE   ROSES. 

Souvenir  de  Malmaison,  large,  shell  Champney's  cluster,  blush. 

color.  Aimee  Vibert,  pure  white. 

Paul  Joseph,  rich,  deep  crimson.  Fellemberg,  crimson. 

Madame  Angelina,  while,  tinged  tcith  Cloth  of  Gold,  Jine  ijelloti\ 

fawn.  Conque  de  Venus,  delicate  blush. 

Souchet,  rose,  tinted  with  carmine.  Jaune  Desprez,  creamy  blush. 

Acidalie,  white,  or  pale  blush.  Lamarque,  pale  yellow. 

Madame  Desprer,  rose,  large  and  very  Smitii's  yellow,  large  and  fragrant. 

double.  Grand! flora,  large  blush. 

General  Dubourg,  do.,  very  fragrant.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  purple. 

Hermosa,  rose  colored.  Joan  of  Arc,  ichite. 

Gloire  de  France,  or  Neumann.  Charles  X.,  bright  red. 
Queen,  rosy  fawn. 

BENGAL    ROSES.  TEA   ROSES. 

Mrs.  Bosanquet,  pale  flesh.  Odorata,  or  Common  blush  Tea. 

Louis  Philippe,  deep  crimson.  Dcvonicnsis,  creamy  white. 

Agrippina,  crimson  or  striped.  Caroline,  fine  blush. 

Double  Wiiite  Daily.  Josephine  Malton,  yellowish  white. 

Queen  of  Lombardy,  cherry  color.  Bourbon  While  Tea. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  109 

Semperflorens,  or  Sanguinea.  Bougere,  glossy  fawn. 

Roi  de  Cramoisies,  rich  crimson.  Aurora,  pale  strau\ 

Marjolin,  .'superb  dark  red.  Clara  Sylvian,  yZne. 

Leonidas,  bright  rose.  Gonbelt,  bright  rose. 

Nearly  all  the  varieties  of  China  Roses  may  be  cultivated  in 
the  open  air,  with  a  trifling  covering  of  straw  or  litter  over  the 
tops  in  winter,  to  prevent  their  being  injured  by  sudden  thaw- 
ing after  severe  frosts. 

The  two  flower  borders  h,  being  each  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  will  contain  a  large  collection  of 
flowering  plants,  both  annuals  and  perennials.  The  latter 
being  more  permanent  and  more  showy,  are  to  be  chiefly  em- 
ployed, but  small  spaces  should  be  left  at  intervals  along  the 
borders  to  allow  the  sowing  of  annuals,  as  the  latter  bloom 
profusely  during  midsummer  and  autumn,  when  comparatively 
few  perennials  are  in  flower.  We  have  already  remarked 
that,  in  order  to  attain  the  most  beautiful  effect  from  such 
flower  borders,  two  rules  must  be  observed:  the  first  is,  to 
arrange  the  plants  so  that  the  taller  and  coarser  growing  shall 
be  furthest  from  the  front  of  the  border,  the  smallest  near  the 
walk  ;  and  the  second,  that  the  collection  should  consist  of  a 
due  proportion  of  plants  blooming  in  the  different  months 
through  the  whole  season.  As  to  perform  this,  will  perhaps 
require  more  knowledge  of  the  habits  of  herbaceous  plants  than 
many  of  our  readers  possess,  we  give  the  following  list  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting  them  in  stocking  beds  of  this  description 
so  as  to  produce  satisfactory  results. 


110  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


LIST  OF    PERENNIAL    P,ORDER    FLOWERS, 

Arranged   according   to    their  period  of  blooming,  with  their 

height. 

FLOWERING  IN  APRIL. 


From  6  ^)  12  inches. 

Anemone  ihaliclr aides,  pi.     Double  wood  Anemone  ;  white. 

Adonis  vernalis.     Spring  flower  Adonis  ;  yellow. 

Corydalis  cucularia.     Breeches  flower ;  white. 

Anemone  Pulsatilla.     Pasque  flower  ;  blue. 

Anemone  hepalica,  pi.     Double  Hepaticas ;  blue. 

Viola  odorala,  pi.     Double  white  and  blue  European  violets. 

Omphalodes  verna.     Blue  Venus  Navelwort. 

Polemonium  reptans.     Greek  Valerian  ;  blue. 

Phlox  stolonifera.     Creeping  Phlox  ;  red. 

Primula  reris.     The  Cowslip ;  yellow  and  red. 

Primula  polyantha.     The  Polyanthus  ;  purple. 

Primula  auricula.     The  Auricula  ;  purple. 

Viola  tricolor.     Heart's  Ease  or  Pansy  ;  many  colors  and  sorts. 

Viola  grandijiora.     Purple  Pansy. 

Phlox  suhulata.     Moss  pink  Phlox. 

Phlox  nivea.     White  Moss  Pink. 

Gmtiana  acaulis.     Dwarf  Gentian  ;  purple. 


From  1  to  2  feet  high. 

Phlox  divaricata.     Early  purple  Phlox. 

Saxifraga  crassifolia.     Thick  leaved  Saxifrage  ;  lilac. 

Doikcatheon  meadia.     American  Cowslip  •,  lilac. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  H] 


Pulmonaria  virginica.    Virginian  Lung^vort ;  purple. 
Alyssum  saxatile.     Golden  Basket ;  yellow. 
TroUius  europeus,     European  Globe  flower ;  yellow. 


MAY. 

CLASS   I. 

From  6  io  12  inches  high. 

Veronica  genlianoides.     Gentian  leaved  Speedwell ;  blue. 
Jeffersonia  diphylla.     Two-leaved  Jeftersonia ;  white. 
Lysamachia  nummularia.     Trailing  Loose-strife  ;  yellow. 
Convallaria  majalis.     Lily  of  the  Valley ;  white. 
Saponaria  oci/moides.     Basil-like  Soap  wort;  red. 
Phlox  pilosa.     Hairy  Phlox ;  red. 
Houstonia  ccerulea.    Blue  Houstonia. 

CLASS  n. 

From  I  io2  feet  high. 

Coronilla  xaria.     Changeable  Coronilla ;  pink, 
Pcconia  tenuifolia.    Fine-leaved  Paeony ;  red. 
Corydalis  formosa.     Showy  Corydalis  ;  red. 
Veronica  spicaia.     Blue-spiked  Speedwell. 
Pentstemon  ovata.     Oval-leaved  Pentstemon  ;  blue. 
Pentstemon  alropurpureus.     Dark  purple  Pentstemon. 
Orohus  niger.     Dark  purple  Vetch. 
Anchusa  ItaJica.     Italian  Bugloss  ;  blue. 
Ranunculus  acris,  pi.     Double  Buttercups ;  yellow. 
Tradescantia  virginica.     Blue  and  white  Spiderwort. 
Lupinus  polyphyllus.    Purple  Lupin. 
Iris  siberica.     Siberian  Iris  ;  blue. 
Lupinus  Nootkaensis.     Nootka  Sound  Lupin  ;  blue. 
Hesperis  malronalis,  albo,  pi.     The  Double  White  Rocket. 


11'-^  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

Phlox  sitaveolens.     The  white  Phlox,  or  Lychnidca. 
Phlox  macula/a.     The  purple  spotted  Phlox. 
Lupimts  perennis  and  rintlaris.     Perennial  Lupins  ;  blue. 
Lychnis  Jlns  ciiciiH,pl.     Double  Ragged-Robin  ;  red. 
Aquilegia  canad>:nsis.     Wild  Columbine  ;  scarlet. 


2  feel  and  higher. 

Papaxcr  oricnlalis.     Oriental  scarlet  Poppy. 
Irisjlorentina,     Florentine  Iris  ;  white. 
P(Conia  albiflora.     Single  white  Paeony. 
HcTnerocallis  flaia.     The  yellow  Day-lily. 


JUNE. 


From  6  /o  12  itiches  high. 

Poientilla  rosea.     The  Rose-colored  Potentilla. 
Potentilla  maijeana.     Mayes'  Potentilla  ;  light  rose. 
Hpirea  filijiendula,  pi.     Double  Pride  of  the  Meadow  :  white. 
Cypripedium  pidiescens.     Yellow  Indian  Moccasin. 
Viscaria  vulgaris,  pi.     White  and  red  Viscaria. 
Eschschollzia  californica.     Golden  Eschscholtzia ;  yellow. 
fji/rhinsfulgevs.     Fulgent  Lychins  ;  red. 
DiaiUhtis  rliincnsis.     Indian  Pinks ;  variegated. 
Verbena  viultifida.     Cut-leaved  Verbena  ;  purple. 
Verbena  Lamhcrti.     Lambert's  Verbena  ;  purple. 
Iris   Susiana.     Chalcedonian  Iris  :  mottled. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCIES.  113. 

CLASS  11. 

From  1  to  -2  feet  high. 

Spirea  Lobala.     Siberian  spirea ;  red. 

Spirea  Ulmaria,  pi.     Double  Meadow  Sweet ;  white. 

Delphinium  grandiflorum,  pi.     Double  dark  blue  Larkspur. 

Delphinium  chinense,  pi.     Double  Chinese  Larkspur ;  blue. 

Dianihus  hortensis.     Garden  Pinks  ;  many  double  sorts  and  colors. 

Callha  paliistris,  pi.     Double  Marsh  Marigold  ;  yellow. 

Polemonium  cccridenm,  and  album.     Common  white  and  blue  Greek  Valerian. 

Campanula persicifoUa, pi.     Double  peach-leaved  Campanula;  white. 

Antirrhinum  majus.     Red  and  white  Snap  Dragons. 

Geranium  mnguineum.     Bloody  Geranium  ;  red. 

(Enothera  frudcosa.     Shrubby  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 

Dianihus  caryophyllus.     The  Carnation  of  many  colors. 

Campanula  grandijlora.     Large  blue  Bellflower. 

Clematis  inlegrifolia.    Austrian  blue  Clematis. 

Asphodelus  ramosus.     Branching  Asphodel ;  white. 

Pentstemon  speciosa.     Showy  Pentstemon  ;  blue. 

CLASS   m. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Aconitum  Napellus,  variegata.     Purple-and-white  Monk's  Hood. 

Aconilum  Napellus.    Monk's  Hood ;  purple. 

Campanula  ranunculoides.     Nodding  Bellflower  ?  blue. 

Verbascum  phczniceum.     Purple  Mullein. 

Clematis  erecta.    Upright  Clematis  ;  white. 

Linum  perenne.     Perennial  Flax  ;  blue. 

Pcconia  Humei.     Double  blush  Psony. 

Pa:onia  fragrans.     Double  fragrant  Pseony ;  rose. 

Pcconia  Whitleji.    Double  white  Paeony. 

Gaillardia  aristata.     Bristly  Gaillardia ;  yellow. 

8 


114  OUTfAUE     RESIDENCES. 

JULY. 

CLASS   I. 

From  6  ^0  12  inches  high. 

Pentstemnn  Rirhardsonii     Richardson's  Pentstemon  ;  purple. 
Penlsiemon  ptibescens.     Downy  Pentstemon  ;  lilac. 
Campanula  carpalhica.     Carpathian  Bellflower  ;  blue. 
Sedum  populifolium.     Poplar-leaved  Sedum ;  white. 
Dianthus  deltoides.     Mountain  Pink ;  red. 
Veronica  maritima.     Maritime  Speedwell ;  blue. 

CLASS   11. 

From  \  to  2  feel  high. 
Pentstemon  campanulalum.     Bellflowered  Pentstemon  ;  lilac. 
Penlsiemon  speciosa.     Showy  Pentstemon  ;  red. 
Penlsiemon  roseum.     Rose-colored  Pentstemon. 
Monarda  didyma.     Lemon-scented  balm  ;  scarlet. 
Potentilla  alrosanguinea.     Dark  red  Potentilla. 
Funkia  Siebuldti.     Lilac  Funkia. 
Coreopsis  Atkinsonia.     Atkinson's  Coreopsis  ;  yellow. 
Anuilegia  glandulosa.     Glandular  Columbine  ;  striped. 
Phlox  Brownii.     Brown's  Phlo.x  ;  red. 
Diclamnus  Fraxinclla.     Purple  Fraxinella. 
Dictamnus  alba.     White  Fraxinella. 
\nchusa  ajjicinalis.     Common  Bugloss  ;  blue. 
aUnotliera  Fraseri.     Fraser's  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 
(Enolliera  macrocarpa.     Large  podded  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 
Campanula  IracheUinn,  pi.     Double  white,  and  blue  Bell  flowers. 
Potenlilla  RusscUiana.     Russell's  Cinquefoil ;  red. 
Delphinium  speciosum.     Showy  Larkspur  ;  blue. 
Campanula  macranlha.     Large  blue  Bell-flower. 
Chelone  Lyoni.     Purple  Chelone. 
Chelone  barhata.     Bearded  Chelone  ;  orange. 
Dracocephalum  grandijlorum.     Dragon's  head ;  purple. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  115 


2  feet  and  higher. 


Delphinium  elaium.     Bee  Larkspur  ;  blue. 

Penlslemon  digitalis.     Missouri  Pentstemon  ;  white. 

Hibiscus  paluslris.     Swamp  Hibiscus  ;  red. 

Lychnis  Chalcedonica.     Single  and  double  scarlet  Lychnis. 

Lythrum  latifvlium.     Perennial  Pea ;  purple. 

.• 

AUGUST. 


From  6  /o  12  inches  high. 

Corydalis  formosa.  Red  Fumitory. 
Phlox  carnea.  Flesh  colored  Phlo.x. 
Lychnis  coronala,     Chinese  orange  Lychnis. 


From  1  to  2  feet  high. 

Geum  Quellyon.     Scarlet  Geum. 

Gaillardia  aristata.     Bearded  Gaillardia ;  yellow. 

Phlox  Alcordi.     Alcord's  Phlox  ;  purple. 

Catananche  cccrulea.     Blue  Catananche. 

Asclepias  tuherosa.     Orange  Swalloww'ort. 

Veronica  carnea.     Flesh-colored  Speedwell. 

Gaillardia  hicolor.     Orange  Gaillardia. 

Hemerocallis  japonica.     Japan  day-lily  ;  white. 

Dianlhus  superbus.     Superb  fringed  Pink ;  white. 

Lobelia  cardinalis.     Cardinal  flower  ;  red. 

Lythrum  Salicaria.     Willow  Herb  ;  purple. 

Liatris  squarrosa.     Blazing  Star;  blue. 

Coreopsis  ienuifolia.     Five-leaved  Coreopsis ;  yellow. 

Phlox  Van  Houtlei.     Van  Houtte's  Phlox  ;  purple  and  white,  striped. 


116  COTTAfiE     RESIDENCES. 

CLASS  lU. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Campamila  pyramidalis.     The  pyramidal  Bell-flower  ;  blue  and  white. 

Yucca  filatnentosa.     Adam's  Thread  ;  white. 

Yucca  Jlaccida.     Flaccid  Yucca  ;  white. 

Phlox  paniculata.     Panicled  Thlox  ;  purple  and  white. 

Epilobium  spicafum.     Purple  spiked  Epilobium. 

Cassia  Marylandica.     Maryland  Cassia  ;  yellow. 

SEPTEMBER  AND  OCTOBER. 

CLASS    I. 

From  6  /<>  12  inches  high. 

Achillea  Plarmica,  pi.     Double  Milfoil  ;  white. 
Aster  linifolius.     Fine-leaved  Aster  ;  white. 
Gentiana  Saponaria.     Soapwort  Gentian ;  blue. 


From  I  to  2  feel  hiqh. 

Coreopsis  grandijlora.     Large  yellow  Coreopsis. 
Eupalorium  celeslinum.     Azure  blue  Eupatorium. 
Phlox  Wheeleriana.     Wheeler's  Phlox ;  red. 


2  feel  and  higher. 

Aster  macrophijllus.     Broad-leaved  Aster  ;  white. 

Eupatorium  nromaticum.     Fragrant  Eupatorium  ;  white. 

Lialris  elegans.     Elegant  Blazing  Star  ;  purple. 

Lialris  spicata  and  scarrosa.     Blue  Blazing  Stars. 

Aster  nov(V-auglia.     New-England  Aster  ;  purple. 

Echinops  rilro.     Globe  thistle  ;  blue. 

Chrysanthemum  imlicurn.     Artemisia?,  many  sorts  and  colors. 


DKSKj.N   VI. 

A  VILLA.  IN  THE  ITALIAN  STYLK.   BHACKETFD. 


a  iti-  00 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  1  17 


DESIGN    VI. 

An  irregular  villa  in  tJie  Italian  style,  hracketted. 

This  design  shows  a  villa  in  the  Italian  style,  of  moderate 
size.  It  is  highly  irregular,  and  while  it  will,  on  account  of 
the  greater  pieturesqueness  and  variety  growing  out  of  this 
circumstance,  be  much  more  pleasing  to  a  portion  of  our 
readers,  a  great  number  of  persons,  who  only  judge  of  a 
dwelling-house  by  a  common-sense  standard,  will  probably 
prefer  a  more  regular  and  uniform  building,  like  one  of  the 
previous  designs.  The  latter  class  will  find  no  good  reason 
for  any  extra  cost  incurred  in  creating  an  irregular  villa  like 
this,  as  a  more  regular  one  would  afford  the  same  comfort 
and  convenience  ;  but  persons  who  have  cultivated  an  archi- 
tectural taste,  and  who  relish  the  higher  beauties  of  the  art 
growing  out  of  variety,  will  give  a  great  preference  to  a  de- 
sign capable  of  awakening  more  strongly  emotions  of  the 
beautiful  or  picturesque,  as  well  as  the  useful  or  convenient. 
We  might  illustrate  the  natural  progress  in  taste  in  the  fine 
arts,  which  all  persons  make,  and  their  relative  capacity  of 
enjoying  different  degrees  of  art,  by  a  familiar  example  drawn 
from  music.  Most  persons,  having  an  ear  for  music,  but  who 
have  never  cultivated  a  taste  for  it,  will  be  found  greatly  to 


f 


118  COTTAOE     RESrDEXCES. 

prefer  simple  airs,  because  tlie  simple  rhythm  of  melody  [<■ 
distinct,  and  easily  understood  ;  the  inure  intricate  beauties  of 
harmony  abounding  in  fine  musical  compositions,  are  only 
intensely  felt  and  enjoyed  when  our  perceptions  are  enlarged 
and  heightened  by  education. 

The  Italian  mode  is  capable  of  displaying  a  rich  domestic 
character' in  its  balconies,  verandas,  ornamental  porches,  ter- 
races, etc.  The  square  tower,  or  camj)an\le,  is  a  prominent 
feature  in  villas  in  this  style,  and  frequently  confers  on  the 
Italian  compositions  a  character  of  great  boldness  and  dignity. 
The  projecting  roof,  and  the  round-arched  window,  are  also 
characteristic  features. 

The  present  design  is  intended  for  a  situation  where  rl 
is  desired  to  preserve  the  whole  of  the  fine  view  from  the 
windows  of  the  drawing-room  unobstructed,  and  the  entrance 
front  is  accordingly  made  on  the  adjoining  side.  After 
reaching  the  porch,  see  Fig.  49,  we  enter  the  vestibule 
which  occupies  the  lower  floor  of  the  tower,  and  from  thence 
the  hall,  leading  through  the  building,  and  terminating  in  a 
back  porch  of  one  story  in  height.  Adjoining  the  latter  is 
a  closet  for  stores. 

On  the  left  of  this  hall  is  an  elegant  drawing-room  20  by 
24  feet,  connected  with  a  library  20  by  16  feet.  At  either 
extremity  of  these  rooms,  is  a  handsome  projecting  window 
in  the  Italian  mode,  giving  an  air  of  dignity  to  the  apartments, 
and  in  front  are  three  casement  windows  opening  to  the  floor 
of  the  Acranda,  both  lor  the  iMU-jiose  of  allow  inn;  an  uninter- 
rupted view,  and  aff"ording  easy  communication. 

On  the  right  of  the  hall  is  the  dining-room,  20  by  IG  feet. 
A  pantry  or  store-room,  H  l»y  10  feet,  opens  into  tliis   room. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


11!) 


In  front  is  a  pretty  little  terrace,  ornamented  with  a  few  vases 
of  terra  cotta,  or  artificial  stone.* 


fFig.  50.] 

The  chamber  floor  of  this  design  shows  three  bedrooms, 
20  by  16  feet,  each  with  a  pleasant  balcony  at  one  of  its 
windows  ;  and  two  smaller  bedrooms.  In  the  attic  story  are 
three  bedrooms  for  servants,  lighted  by  the  windows  shown 
in  the  gables.  From  the  attic  a  small  staircase  leads  through 
the  half  story  (with  square  windows),  to  the  upper  story  of 
the  campanile  or  tow^er,  whence  an  extensive  prospect  of  the 
country  for  many  miles  round  is  enjoyed. 

The  kitchen  of  this  villa  is  placed  beneath  the  dining- 
room  ;  and  ample  cellarage,  wine,  and  store-rooms,  are  obtained 


*  Handsome  vases  for   this  purpose  may  be   obtained  at  Gibson's  Warehouse, 
Pearl  street,  or  at  the  Salamander  Works,  Cannon  street.  New  York. 


120 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES, 


under  the  main  body  of  the  house,  at  the  other  side  of  the 
hall. 

The  fanciful  and  convenient  window  shades,  or  canopies, 
occasionally  employed  in  this  style,  may  be  made  of  canvas, 
supported  by  a  light  iron  frame,  or  of  light  wood,  painted  to 
resemble  an  awning.  Handsome  striped  Italian  canvas,  for 
this  purpose,  may  now  be  had  in  New  York. 

A  building  in  this  style  will  be  greatly  heightened  in  effect 
by  being  well  supported  by  trees,  the  irregular  forms  of  which 
will  harmonize  with  the  character  of  the  architecture,  A 
Lombardy  poplar  or  two,  judiciously  introduced  in  the  midst 
of  groups  of  round-headed  trees,  will  have  a  happy  effect. 
The  beautiful  wooded  situations  on  the  banks  of  our  fine 
rivers  are,  many  of  them,  admirably  suited  for  an  Italian  villa 
of  this  kind. 

Construction.     We  have  supposed  this  villa  to  be  built  of 

wood,  the    bracketted    construction    giving    it  a  character   of 

lightness,  but  the  effect  would  be  even  better  if  built  of  more 

solid  materials,  and  brick  and  stucco,  well  constructed,  would 

f'  f  f^  f  ^f  be  very  durable  under  the  shel- 

'^---/:     ter  of   tlio  broadly    projecting 


||^^^^^'.>: 


,iii.i„iiiiii,ii,iiiiiTTcrTr 


'iiMJ»g.""a"i"ii'^is^ 

[Fig.51.J 


13; 


roof.  The  forms  of  brackets 
given  in  Fig.  44,  of  our  last 
design,  are  equally  suitable 
here,  v,  being  the  bracket  for 
the  eaves  in  front.  A  portion 
of  the  veniiida  is  shown  in  Fig. 
.')1.  Ill  this,  (ho  upright  co- 
lumns enclosing  the  lattice  are 


supposed    to  be    octagonal,  and  four    inches  in   diameter,  the 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  121 

lattice  itself  being  much  heavier  and  more  durable  than  it 
is  usually  made.  Its  ceiling  is  made  of  beaded  and  planed 
stuff,  forming  also  the  roof,  and  the  rafters  are  in  like  man- 
ner beaded  and  plainly  shown.  The  chimney  tops  of  the 
main  building  should  come  out  at  the  ridge  of  the  roof,  which 
will  be  effected  by  drawing  over  the  stacks  in  the  garret. 
The  roof  should  project  at  least  three  feet  on  every  side. 
The  principal  story  should  be  13  feet  high  in  the  clear,  and 
the  chamber  story  10  feet. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  villa,  handsomely  finished,  will 
be  about  $6800. 

LAYING    OUT    THE    GROUNDS. 

The  grounds  attached  to  this  villa  are  supposed  to  be  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  extent,  and  we  have  therefore 
been  able  to  represent  in  the  annexed  engraving,  Fig.  52, 
only  a  small  part  containing  the  house,  and  the  more  orna- 
mental portion  bordering  the  river.  The  house  is  situated 
on  a  plateau  elevated  about  80  feet  above  the  river,  and 
the  ground  falls  off  somewhat  rapidly  from  this  level  along 
the  river  bank,  and  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  waved 
lines  a. 

The  approach  h,  leads  to  the  house  c,  in  gently  curved 
lines,  and  from  thence  to  the  stable  and  other  out-buildings 
d.  There  is  a  large  orchard,  a  small  part  of  which  is  seen 
at  e,  the  kitchen  garden  is  located  at  f,  and  at  ^  is  a  bathing 
house  on  the  river  bank. 

This  place,  like  a  great  many  in  this  country  of  its  cha- 
racter, we  will  suppose  to  possess  a  richly  wooded,  hanging 
bank  on  its  river    side.     This  will    afford  us  a  fine    opportu- 


122 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


nity  to  create  a  most  agreeable  series  of  walks  i.  These 
walks  may  be  conducted  in  easy  directions,  through  the  wood, 
and  along  the  bank,  occasionally  intersecting  each  other. 
They  may  often  approach  each  other  very  near,  without 
being  visible  one  from  the  other,  in  consequence  of  the  thick- 
ness of  the  foliage  in  some  places,  or  the  irregularity  of  the 


[Fig.  52.J 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  123 

surface  in  others.  They  will  be  lull  of  variety — now  leading 
to  a  point  where  a  lovely  view  suddenly  bursts  upon  us,  and 
again  plunging  into  a  secluded  portion,  where  the  dense  foli- 
age of  evergreens  shuts  out  all  other  objects,  and  gives  a 
quiet    and    secluded    character    to  the    scene.      Rustic    seats, 

Fig.  53,  placed  here 
and  there  in  the  most 
inviting  spots,  will  both 
heighten  the  charm 
and  enable  us  to  enjoy 
[Fig.  53.]  at     leisure     the    quiet 

beauty  around.  A  very  great  advantage  which  walks  made 
in  such  a  situation  have,  is,  the  trifling  care  and  expense  ne- 
cessary to  preserve  them  in  order.  But  few  weeds  grow  in 
the  shade  of  large  forest  trees,  and  the  character  of  the  place 
renders  it  unnecessary  that  the  walks  should  have  a  very  trim 
and  neat  appearance.  The  repose,  the  variety,  and  the  beauty 
of  a  series  of  walks  of  this  kind  in  several  places  that  we 
could  name,  created  with  very  trifling  trouble,  render  them, 
in  our  opinion,  far  more  delightful  than  twice  the  same  dis- 
tance of  walks  in  a  common  level  flower  garden. 

These  walks  commence  at  the  veranda  at  h,  and  form  a  con- 
nected promenade  terminating  at  the  other  end  of  the  veranda 
at  k.  Xear  the  house,  in  the  space  commanded  by  the  draw- 
ing-room and  library  windows,  are  some  borders  of  handsome 
flowering  plants  I.  At  least  the  oval  area  of  lawn  rp^  and 
the  space  between  the  porch  and  where  the  ground  descends 
at  a,  should  be  kept  constantly  mown,  and  in  the  highest 
order,  so  as  to    heighten,  and    render  more  forcible    by  con- 


124  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

trast,  the  wilder  and  mure  j)icturesque  beauty  of   tlie  sylvan 
walks  i. 

A  turfed  area  for  bleaching  and  drying  clothes  is  set  apart 
and  concealed  by  shrubbery  at  ii. 

When  a  situation  like  this  is  selected  for  a  villa  residence, 
with  a  bald;  richly  clothed  by  a  natural  growth  of  forest 
trees,  and  with,  perhaps,  scattered  groups  of  large  trees  here 
and  there  elsewhere,  the  art  of  the  improver  should  lie  in 
harmonizing  all  his  improvements  with  the  main  features  of 
the  place  already  existing.  Almost  every  place  of  this  kind 
has  a  natural  character  of  dignity  or  picturesqueness,  derived 
from  the  rich  banks  of  wood,  the  noble  river,  and  the  finely 
undulating  surface,  which  must  be  kept  in  view  in  all  em- 
bellishments. The  trees  which  arc  planted  in  the  larger 
breadths  of  lawn  should  be  elms,  oaks,  horse-chestnuts,  and 
maples,  or  other  species  of  large  growth,  so  that  they  may 
correspond  in  expression,  when  somewhat  grown,  with  those 
already  existing.  No  formal  avenues,  or  straight  lines,  should 
be  planted,  to  raise  a  discordant  expression  when  viewed  in 
the  same  coup  d'ail  with  the  existing  groups  and  masses  ot 
foliage;  and  the  larger  breadths  ol"  lawn  at  a  distance  irom 
the  windows  of  the  house,  should  not  be  broken  up  by  any 
frip]R'ry  walks  or  parterres  which  might  detract  from  the 
breadth  and  simplicity  of  the  scene.  In  a  place  where  there 
is  a  character  of  dignity  and  simplicity  arising  from  extensive 
prospect,  large  and  lofty  trees,  and  considerable  breadth  of 
lawn,  we  should  be  extremely  cautious  about  introducing  too 
much  of  the  little  details  of  flower  garden  or  shrubbery  or- 
naments in  the  tore-ground,  lest  they  should  degrade  or  weaken 
the  original  and  higher  character  of  the  scene.      We  should 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  125 

rather  place  the  latter  in  a  more  secluded  spot,  where  they 
will  form  objects  of  beauty  to  be  considered  entirely  by 
themselves,  and  not  in  connexion  with  other  objects.  For 
this  reason  it  will  be  seen  that  we  have  in  this  plan  and  a 
previous  one,  confined  the  flowering  plants  to  three  or  four 
beds  cut  in  the  turf  near  the  drawing-room  windows  of  the 
house. 

The  orchard  and  fruit  garden.  A  small  portion  of  the 
orchard  e,  appears  on  the  plan,  but  as  we  have  supposed  a 
place  of  this  size  to  have  a  large  and  well  stocked  orchard 
and  fruit  garden,  we  shall  here  give  a  list  of  superior  fruits, 
which,  having  been  tested,  are  known  to  be  of  first-rate  ex- 
cellence in  the  climate  of  the  Middle  States.  A  fine  orchard 
and  fruit  garden,  producing  an  abundant  supply  of  fruit  at 
all  seasons,  is  one  of  the  greatest  sources  of  enjoyment  in  a 
country  life  ;  and  when  we  consider  how  easily  good  fruit 
is  generally  obtained  in  this  country,  without  the  aid  of 
walls  or  anything  more  than  a  moderate  degree  of  attention, 
it  would  certainly  appear  a  matter  of  just  reproach,  wherever 
there  is  sufficient  room,  not  to  have  a  first  rate  collection  of 
fruit. 

Horticulture,  but  more  especially  pomology — that  branch 
of  it  devoted  to  fruits — has  received  so  much  attention  both 
in  Europe  and  at  home,  that  within  the  last  20  years  the 
number  of  delicious  fruits  capable  of  being  raised  in  the  open 
air  has  been  more  than  trebled.  The  Pear,  especially,  has 
been  greatly  improved  and  ameliorated,  and  has  indeed  taken 
the  first  rank  among  dessert  fruits,  in  consideration  of  the 
variety  in  flavor,  time  of  ripening,  duration,  and  beauty  of 
the    numerous  sorts.     The   late    autumn    and  winter  varieties 


1"^()  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

are  a  very  valuable  acquisition  to  our  dessert  at  these  sea- 
sons. Added  to  this,  many  of  the  new  sorts  come  into  fruit 
at  one  half  or  one  fourth  the  age  necessary  to  the  bearing  of 
the  older  kinds. 

Where  a  variety  of  soils  occurs,  as  is  frequently  the  case 
in  a  large  orchard,  it  is  well  to  know  those  peculiarly  adapted 
to  each  fruit  tree.  Apples  are  found  to  thrive  best  in  a  strong 
deep  loam,  if  stony  it  is  preferable;  pears  and  cherries  in  a 
mellow  gravelly  loam  :  plums  in  a  strong  clayey  loam,  and 
peaches  in  a  light  sandy  loam.  Apples  may  be  planted  in  an 
orchard  at  from  30  to  45  feet  apart ;  cherries  and  pears,  from 
2.5  to  30  feet ;  peaches  and  plums,  from  20  to  25  feet.  In  trans- 
planting all  fruit  trees  be  mindful  not  to  commit  the  common 
error  of  setting  them  too  deep. 

LIST   OF   THE   FINEST   VARIETIES   OF   FRUIT. 

Foi'  the  Orchard  and  Fruit  Garden. 

CHERRIES.  Downer's  Red,  late  and  delicious. 

Early  White  Heart.  Holland  Bigarreau. 

Knicrht's  Early  Black, /ru/7  large  and  Carnation,  valuable  for  preserving. 

fine.  Transparent  Guigne. 

Mayduke,  fme  for  the  lahle  and  for  Belle  de  Choisey,  fine. 

cooking.  Elton,  handsome  and  fine. 

Black   Tartarian,  large   and  of  fine  Late  Duke. 

qualitij.  Morella. 
Black  Eagle. 
Bigarreau,  or  GnL^\o\\,  large  and  de-  plums. 

Vicious.  Early  Scarlet,  or  Cherry  Plum,  icry 
Flesh  colored  Bigarreau,  beautiful,  early. 

excellent,  while  ami  bluxh.  fine.  Morocco,  early. 

Downton.  Ajjricot,    di). 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


127 


Green  Gage. 

Imperial,   or  Flushing  Gage,  a  fine 
and  productive  sort. 

Coe's  Golden  Drop,  handsome,  very 
late  and  excellent. 

Coe's  Late  Red,  fine  and  productive. 

Bleeker's  Gage. 

Jefterson,  yellow,  large  and  fine. 

Bleeker's  Scarlet,  bears  well. 

La  Royale,  delicious. 

Orleans. 

Lawrence's  Favorite. 

Washington,  excellent. 

Huling's  Superb,  large. 

Magnum  Bonum,  or  Egg  Plum,  for 

preserving. 
Columbia,  large,  reddish  purple. 
Smith's  Orleans. 
Violet  Imperatrice. 
German  Prune. 
Purple  Gage. 

Autumn  Gage,  late  and  fine. 
Lucombe's  Nonsuch. 
White  Damson. 

PEACHES. 

Early  White  Nutmeg. 
Early  Royal  George. 
George  IV.,  very  fine. 
Morris  White  Rareripe. 
Red  Rareripe. 


Crawford's  Late. 
Snow  Peach,  handsome. 
Red  cheek  Malecaton. 
Brevoort's  Morris,  fine. 
Columbia. 
Malta. 

Lemon  Cling. 
Large  White  Cling. 
Early  Newington. 
Large  Early  York. 
President. 
White  Imperial. 

APRICOTS. 

IMoorpark,  one  of  the  very  best  sorts. 
Large  Early,  excellent. 
Turkey,  sure  bearer. 
Breda. 

FEARS. 

1.  Early  Varieties. 
Madeleine,  early  and  good. 
Bloodgood's  Early,  excellent. 
Dearborn's  Seedling. 
Muscadine. 

Bartlett,  or  William's  Bonchretein, 
large  and  delicious. 

2.  Medium  period, 
Flemish  Beauty. 

Seckel,  first  quality. 
*Doyenne,  or  Virgalieu. 
Steven's  Genesee. 


*  These  sorts,  althougli  fine  in  the  interior,  do  not  succeed  so  well  near  the 
sea-coast. 


128 


COTTAGE     RE:JlDE.\CE8. 


Golden  Beurri;  of  Bilboa. 

Fonlante  d'Automne. 

"Ciansels  Uergamot. 

Capiumont. 

Frederick  of  Wurtemberg,  handsome. 

Van  Mons  le  Clerc. 

Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey. 

Marie  Louise,  (lelicious. 

Napoleon. yi/iVy  arid  pleasant. 

Urbaniste,  excellent. 

Bcurre  Bosc. 

Dix. 

Comte  de  Lamay,  excellent. 

Thompson's. 

Bezi  de  la  Motte. 

Ileathcot. 

3.  Late  varieties  from  Nov.  to  May. 
Beurre  Diel,  large  and  good  on  quince's 

stock. 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  do. 
Passe  Colmar. 
Glout  Morceaux. 
Bcurre  dArernberg,  very  fine. 

do.     Bans. 
Lewis. 

*St.  Germain,  an  old  but  valuable  sort. 
Columbian. 
Wilkinson. 
Winter  Nelis. 

NECTARINES. 

Early  Violet,  good  and  productive. 


Boston. 
Elruge. 
New  White. 

APPLES. 

Many  of  the  best  winter  varieties 
are  enumerated  at  page  91  ;  the  fol- 
lowing are  choice  dessert  fruits. 
Red  Astrachan,  a  very  hcaullful  and 

early  soii. 
Yellow  Harvest,  large  and  excellent. 
Strawberry  Apple. 
Early  Red  Margaret. 
Sine  qua  non. 

William's  Favorite,  beautiful. 
Lady  Apple,  beautifid  dessert  fruit. 
Northern  Spy. 
Ladies'  Sweeting, ^/w. 
Ross  Nonpareil. 
Esopus  Spitzenberg,  high  flavor. 
Green  Newtown  Pippin. 
Yellow  Bellflower. 
Baldwin,  very  productive. 
Porter. 
Fameuse. 

Sops  of  Wine,  early  and  handsome. 
Rhode  Island  Greening,  excellent. 
Fall  Pippin. 
Hubbardson  Nonsuch. 
American  Golden  Russet. 


•  These  sorts,  althoiigli  line  in  the  interior,  do  not  succeed  so  well  near  the 
sea-coast. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  129 

In  addition  to  these,  we  would  recommend  some  of  the 
smaller  fruits  of  choice  varieties.  The  Isabella  and  Catawba 
grapes,  and  some  of  the  hardier  foreign  sorts,  as  the  Black 
Hamburgh,  Chasselas,  Black  Cluster  and  White  Muscadine  ; 
the  large  Red  and  the  White  Antwerp  Raspberries  ;  the  Large 
Early  Scarlet,  Hovey's  Seedling,  and  Black  Prince  Strawber- 
ries ;  the  frizzled  and  prolific  English  Filberts,  and  the  large 
White  and  Red  Dutch  Currants,  may  all  be  named  as  indispen- 
sable in  every  fruit  garden. 

In  the  cultivation  of  fruits  but  little  difficulty  will  be  ex- 
perienced if  a  keen  watch  is  kept  on  insects,  destroying  every 
appearance  of  a  nest,  brood,  or  swarm,  as  soon  as  it  makes  its 
appearance.  One  man  may  often  do  more  to  subdue  and  ex- 
terminate a  troublesome  insect  in  an  hour  or  two,  when  it  first 
appears,  than  a  host  of  men  would  after  it  has  had  time  to 
multiply,  as  it  often  will  in  a  week  by  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands. 

In  the  case  of  the  peach  tree,  examine  the  trees  at  the  root 
every  spring  and  autumn,  and  take  out  the  peach  worm,  before 
it  girdles  the  tree,  with  your  knife ;  and  destroy  every  sickly 
looking  tree,  especially  every  old  one,  on  your  premises  the 
moment  it  becomes  fairly  diseased — the  Yellows,  to  which  this 
fruit  tree  is  liable,  being  a  contagious  disease,  spreading  from 
tree  to  tree,  so  that  it  is  quite  needless  to  plant  healthy  young 
trees  where  old  ones  are  suffered  to  stand  in  their  neighbor- 
hood. This  fact  alone,  when  understood,  is  sufficient  to  solve 
all  the  apparent  difficulties  in  cultivating  this  fruit  of  late  years. 
The  knots,  to  which  the  Plum  is  liable  in  some  districts,  are 
caused  by  an  insect,  and  the  limbs  infected  with  them  should  be 
cut  off  and  burned  early  in  the  spring.     If  the  fruit  fall  from 


130  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

the  tree  prematurely,  it  is  probably  caused  by  the  sting  of  the 
curculio,  and  the  remedy  lies  in  destroying  all  the  curculio  for 
the  next  season  by  gathering  the  fruit  as  soon  as  it  falls  (which 
contains  the  larva;),  and  throwing  it  into  the  hog-pen  ;  or  in 
planting  your  stone  fruits  in  an  enclosure  by  themselves,  and 
letting  the  swine  run  in  it  during  the  season  when  the  green 
fruit  is  falling. 


DESIGN  VII. 
AN  IRREGULAR  COTTAGE  IN  THE  OLD  ENGLISH  STYLE. 


■^f^r^4>.-r-   -]ftf:^^^^— 


PRINCIPAL      FLOOR 


t.!;J 


Fip.  .''■' 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCI3.  131 


DESIGN   VII. 
An  irregular  cottage,  in  the  old  English  style. 

The  situation  for  this  cottage  may  be  in  a  richly  wooded 
plain,  or  a  sequestered  valley.  It  belongs  to  that  class  of  rich- 
ly decorated,  rural  Gothic  edifices,  abounding  in  carved  verge- 
boards  and  pendants,  clustered  chimney  tops,  and  irregular  out- 
lines. There  is  something  of  grotesqueness,  or  at  least  fan- 
tastic richness  in  its  details — something  indicating  a  certain 
license  of  architectural  imagination,  not  to  be  precisely  mea- 
sured by  the  standard  of  the  rule  and  square,  or  the  strictly 
utilitarian  view.  Now  a  cottage  of  this  class  must  not,  in  any 
case,  be  erected  on  a  bare  plain,  or  even  one  comparatively  so, 
as  in  such  a  place  all  its  picturesqueness  would  seem  out  of 
keeping — unmeaning — and  absurd.  But  let  it  be  partially  hid- 
den, or  half  concealed  by  clustering  foliage,  and  assimilated, 
as  it  were,  with  nature,  by  the  interlacing  and  entwining 
branches  and  boughs  around  it,  and  of  which  its  ornaments  are 
in  some  degree  a  repetition,  and  we  shall  feel  it  to  be  in  perfect 
unison  with  its  situation.  Whoever  has  seen  one  of  these 
cottages,  with  its  rich  gables  breaking  out  from  among  the  in- 
tricacy of  tall  stems  and  shadowy  foliage,  will  readily  confess 
that  he  has  rarely  beheld  anything  more  harmonious  and  de- 
lightful, than  the  charming  effect  thereby  produced. 

Some  one  has  truly  remarked  that  the  architecture  of  our 


132  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

dwellings  is  most  appropriate,  when  it  embodies  and  breathes 
forth  a  Jiome  expression ;  a  character  to  which  we  think  the 
rural  Gothic,  with  its  quaint,  independent,  comfortable,  and  ex- 
tended air,  seems  fully  to  lay  claim. 

In  arranging  the  plan  of  the  interior  of  this  cottage,  Fig.  5G, 
we  have  had  convenience,  as  well  as  elegance,  in  our  mind. 
The  neat  porch  which  shelters  the  front  door,  is  provided  with 
suitable  seats  on  either  side,  which  should  be  made  to  corres- 
pond with  the  architecture.  On  opening  this  door  we  find 
ourselves  in  the  vestibule,  or  entrance  hall.  This  we  shall  sup- 
pose fitted  up  with  a  dado  or  base,  three  and  a  half  feet  high, 
of  wood  grained  in  imitation  of  oak  or  black  walnut,  and  the 
walls  painted  of  some  grave  color,  to  give  greater  eflfect  to 
the  rooms.  The  vestibule  opens  on  the  left  into  a  pleasant 
little  room,  12  by  18  feet,  which  may  be  devoted  to  a  study,  or 
library,  and  neatly  fitted  up  with  book-cases.  In  building,  it 
will  be  found  that  recesses  may  be  left  in  the  walls  for  these 
book-cases,  so  that  they  will  occupy  but  little  space  in  the 
apartment.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  is  the  living  or 
dining-room,  17  by  18  feet.  This  room  is  lighted  by  one  of  the 
large,  square,  mullioned  windows,  so  common  in  the  old  Eng- 
lish houses,  which  should  be  finished  on  the  inside  with  a 
window-seat.  A  china  closet  is  made  on  the  right  of  the  chim- 
ney breast  in  this  room,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  hall  are  a 
pantry  and  a  store-room,  of  good  size,  very  conveniently  dis- 
posed. 

The  dining-room  communicates  with  the  parlor  or  drawing- 
room  on  its  right.  This  drawing-room  is,  of  course,  the  finest 
room  in  size,  aspect,  and  proportion,  in  the  house,  being  22  by 
19  feet,  with  a  fine  semihexagon  bay,  which,  projecting  boldly, 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  133 

will  give  three  distinct  views  to  a  person  standing  within  it. 
We  would  have  the  ceiling  of  this  and  the  dining-room  ribbed, 
and  perhaps  slightly  arched,  in  the  form  of  two  inclined  planes, 
rising  8  or  10  inches  from  the  side  walls,  to  the  highest  part  of 
the  ceiling.  The  wood-work  of  the  whole  of  this  story  should 
be  finished  simply  and  consistently,  that  is,  with  suitable  Gothic 
mouldings,  and  the  whole  should  be  painted  and  grained  in 
imitation  of  oak,  or  of  black  walnut.  The  effect  of  the  rooms 
will  be  still  more  pleasing,  if  the  walls  are  colored  some  har- 
monious neutral  tint.*  The  furniture  should  be  in  strict  cha- 
racter with  the  style  of  the  house,  which  may  be  easily  attained, 
without  any  additional  expense,  by  choosing  simple  and  suit- 
able forms. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  leadinoj  to  the  drawinij-room,  is  a  bed- 
room,  19  by  13  feet,  with  a  closet.  This  would  make  a  con- 
venient bedroom  for  the  master  and  mistress  of  the  house.  Ad- 
joining it  is  a  dressing-room,  which,  if  neatly  and  tastefully 
fitted  up  with  everything  appertaining  to  a  lady's  toilet,  will 
give  this  bedroom  a  highly  comfortable  and  refined  air. 

The  staircase  is  placed  at  the  other  extremity  of  this  hall, 
and  it  may  be  made  more  private  or  secluded,  if  it  is  thought 
desirable,  by  an  oaken  screen  of  open  woodwork.  Under 
this  staircase  is  constructed  a  descending  flight  leading  to  the 
cellar. 

*  We  take  pleasure  in  recommending  to  those  who  wish  to  fit  np  the  interior 
of  a  cottage  or  villa  beautifully,  Mr.  George  Piatt,  decorative  artist,  12  Spruce- 
street,  New  York.  The  great  variety  of  ornaments  in  the  different  styles,  to  be 
found  at  his  warehouse,  and  the  correct  taste  and  skill  with  which  they  are 
applied  by  him  to  the  decoration  of  apartments,  fully  entitle  him  to  the  ample 
patronage  which  he  now  receives. 


134 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


On  the  sides  of  the  passage  leading  from  the  hall  to  the  kitch- 
en, are  the  pantry,  the  larder,  and  the  store-room.  By  placing 
these  most  useful  and  convenient  appendages  in  this  position, 
we  not  only  make  them  at  once  easily  accessible  from  the 
kitchen  or  the  dining-room,  but  we  also  remove  the  kitchen, 
with  its  concomitant  noises  and  odors,  to  some  distance  from 
the  main  hall,  and  these  may  be  still  further  lessened  in  effect, 
by  having  a  door  at  both  ends  of  this  passage,  to  be  shut  when 
required. 

The  kitchen  itself  is  10  feet  square  ;  it  is  amply  lighted  and 
ventilated,  and  communicates  directly  with  the  open  air,  by  the 
passage  at  the  further  side.  In  this  passage  is  a  servants'  stair- 
case, communicating  with  the  apartments  in  the  chamber  story. 

The  chamber  story  contains  abundant  accommodation  for  a 


SECON  D       FLOOR 


[Fig.  57.] 

cottage.     There  are  three  handsome  bedrooms,  and  two  of  a 


COTTAGE     RKSIDENCES.  135 

smaller  size.  That  over  the  drawing-room  being  the  largest, 
and  the  most  beautiful  in  form,  may  be  kept  as  the  "  state  bed- 
room," being  fitted  up  with  all  the  appliances  of  comfort  in  its 
furniture  and  fixtures.  The  little  room  over  the  porch  will 
make  a  delightful  room  for  a  bachelor,  or  if  one  of  the  young 
ladies  takes  a  fancy  to  it,  it  will  make  a  little  bijou  of  a  boudoir, 
the  oriel  window  giving  a  character  of  novelty  and  beauty  to 
the  whole  apartment.  On  the  second  floor  of  the  kitchen  wing 
are  a  bath-room,  near  the  main  hall  (which  may  be  supplied 
with  hot  water  by  pipes  leading  to  a  boiler  in  the  kitchen 
below),  and  three  servants'  bedrooms.  There  is  also  a  water- 
closet  at  the  end  of  the  passage  in  this  wing,  the  discharge  pipe 
from  which  is  concealed  in  the  partition,  in  a  closed  trunk  or 
chamber. 

This  class  of  dwellings,  abroad,  is  frequently  covered  with 
thatch,  which  has  a  pleasing,  rustic  effect.  But  our  snowy  and 
changeable  climate  will  soon  destroy  so  frail  a  material,  and  it 
is  therefore  unfit  for  covering  the  roofs  of  buildings  for  habita- 
tion. Our  best  shingles,  however,  afford  an  excellent  material 
for  covering  roofs,  and  if  those  of  good  size  and  thickness  are 
chosen,  and  shaped  as  we  have  directed  in  a  former  page,  they 
will  have  a  picturesque  and  agreeable  effect,  and  make  a  very 
durable  roof,  when  painted  with  the  cheap,  coarse  paint,  now  so 
generally  used  for  this  purpose.  The  roof  of  this  cottage 
should  be  extended  boldly,  say  two  to  three  feet,  to  give  force 
and  expression  to  the  exterior,  and  to  protect  the  walls  fully. 
The  ends  of  the  rafters  are  projected,  so  as  to  appear  as  visible 
supports  at  the  eaves.  A  verge-board  is  shown  on  a  larger 
scale  in  Fig.  58.      This  would  be  suitable  for  the  porch  gable, 


]36 


COTTAGE     RE8IDENCB8. 


[F.g.58] 

and  the  others  may  be  made  simpler  and  still  bolder,  ^vith  good 
effect.  The  chimney-tops  should  be  characteristically  made  of 
ornamental  moulded  bricks,  or  shafts  may  be  selected  of  pretty 
patterns,  in  cut  stone.  Although  the  partitions  in  which  the 
dining-room  and  study  flues  are  carried  up,  are  not  in  the  cen- 
tre, it  will  be  easy  to  draw  over  these  stacks  in  the  garret,  so 

as  to  bring  them  out  at  the 
ridge  or  apex  of  the  roof, 
which  will  have  the  best  ef- 
fect. A  ])l:ui  of  the  bay  win- 
dow is  shown  in  Fig.  oO,  in 
^  .,,, ,„  which  the  inside  shutters   fold 

COTTAGE    BAY    WINDOW. 

j,,jg  5„  J  into  boxes  on  each  side. 

In  a  country   where  good   bricks  are   abundant,  and   easily 
obtained,  we  should  prefer  to  build  this  cottage  of  good  smooth 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  187 

brick.  The  raw  and  disagreeable  color  of  new  brick  we 
would  destroy,  by  painting  it  three  good  coats  in  oil,  of  some 
one  of  the  neutral  shades  given  in  a  previous  illustration,  per- 
haps that  one  designated  f.  By  building  it  of  brick,  in  the  best 
manner,  we  should  not  only  have  solid  enduring  walls,  but,  to 
those  familiar  with  English  cottage  architecture,  it  would  have 
an  agreeable  effect,  by  creating  an  allusion  to  the  same  mate- 
rial chiefly  employed  in  that  country. 

All  the  exterior  wood-work  in  this  cottage  (except  the 
roof)  we  would  either  make  of  real  oak,  and  oil  it,  when  it 
would  assume  a  warm  rich  tone  of  color,  by  the  effects  of 
time,  or  w^e  would  paint  and  grain  it  in  imitation  of  oak.  If 
either  of  these  modes  should  be  considered  too  expensive,  it 
may  be  plainly  painted  the  same  color  as  the  house,  or  a  few 
shades  darker. 

Should  the  execution  of  such  a  design  as  this  fall  into  the 
hands  of  an  ordinary  country  carpenter,  without  suitable  work- 
ing drawings  from  an  architect,  the  probability  is  that  he  would 
destroy  its  beauty  and  character  by  reducing  all  its  character- 
istic features  to  the  most  meagre  level,  until  all  the  boldness 
and  spirit  of  the  style  would  be  lost.  He  will  cut  the  gable 
ornaments  out  of  thin  boards,  make  the  mullions  of  the  win- 
dows of  slender  timber,  reduce  the  projection  of  the  roof,  and 
the  irregularity  of  the  ground  plan.  If  the  amateur  builder  is 
so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  such  a  person,  he  will 
be  very  likely  to  get  the  emaciated  shadow  of  the  rural  Gothic 
cottage,  not  its  bold,  picturesque,  and  striking  reality.  We 
mention  this  to  put  our  reader,  whose  taste  may  lead  him  to 
build  a  cottage  in  this  style,  on  his  guard  ;  and  we  advise  him, 
as  in  the  end  the  most  economical  and  most  satisfactory  mode, 


138  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

to  employ  a  competent  builder,  and  to  procure  accurate 
working  drawings  from  an  architect  of  ability  before  he  com- 
mences. 

Estifnate.  The  cost  of  this  cottage,  built  in  the  manner  we 
have  here  suggested,  would  be  about  $7000. 

THE    GROUNDS    OF    THIS    RESIDENCE. 

In  designing  this  cottage,  we  have  had  in  view  a  quiet,  se- 
questered situation  in  a  long  valley,  or  rather  dale,  in  which 
there  are  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  nearly  level  land,  pretty  well 
clothed  with  a  natural  growth  of  forest  trees,  and  backed  on 
either  side  by  wooded  lulls  fifty  or  eighty  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  dale. 

There  is  an  entrance  lodge  at  the  point  where  the  approach 
diverges  from  the  main  road  h,  Fig.  60,  which  is  to  be  built  in 
the  same  style  as  the  cottage,  but  in  a  more  simple  and  rustic 
manner.  From  this  point  the  approach  leads  by  a  graceful 
curve  to  the  house  c,  and  from  thence  to  the  stable  and  other 
farm  buildings  d,  having  a  gravel  sweep  for  turning  carriages 
in  front  of  the  porch,  and  another  for  discharging  articles  from 
a  cart  at  the  kitchen  door  e. 

In  its  original  state,  the  whole  of  the  surface  of  this  dale  from 
/to  g,  is  thickly  covered  with  wood.  This  we  propose  to  thin 
out  and  render  an  ornamental  and  interesting  part  of  the  place, 
by  leading  through  it  the  series  of  walks  marked  i  in  the  plan. 
These  walks  would  be  cool  and  shady  in  summer,  and  would 
have  a  delightful  sylvan  character  at  all  seasons.  In  thinning 
out  a  natural  wood  on  a  place  like  this  a  good  deal  of  care  and 
judgment  is  necessary  to  obtain  a  pleasing  effect,  and  preserve 


.Q 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCEg. 

O    O    V7    O    Q  Cj  11 1 


139 


[FJf .  «>.J 


140  COTTAGE     RF.:5IDENCE8. 

the  best  trees  in  good  condition,*  Were  we  to  go  into  the 
wood  and  thin  out  the  trees  iiere  and  there,  so  as  to  leave  the 
finest  specimens  standing  singly,  the  probability  is  that  these 
trees,  thus  suddenly  losing  the  support  of  their  fellows  that  had 
grown  up  in  close  contact  with  them  on  every  side,  would  be 
blown  down  and  destioyed  by  the  first  severe  autumnal  gale 
accompanied  with  rain.  Good  judgment,  as  well  as  good  taste, 
will  rather  dictate  that  we  should  thin  them  out  in  masses  here 
and  there,  leaving  pretty  open  glades  A,  at  intervals,  which  being 
soon  covered  with  a  fine  green  turf,  and  catching  the  gleams  of 
sunlight,  will  be  a  charming  contrast  to  the  groups  and  thickets 
around.  The  trees  thus  left  in  groups  and  masses,  will  afford 
each  other  protection  and  support  against  the  wind,  and  will 
gradually  strengthen  and  expand  in  their  roots  and  heads,  until 
they  become  luxuriant  and  spreading.  We  should  bear  in 
mind  also,  not  to  trim  off"  the  lower  branches  of  such  trees,  un- 
less they  are  dead  or  unsightly  ;  as  they  will  probably  never  be 
replaced,  and  the  highest  beauty  of  a  tree  as  an  ornamental 
object,  consists  in  its  being  park-like,  that  is  luxuriantly 
feathered  with  foliage  quite  down  to  the  ground. 

These  walks,  after  traversing  the  little  wood,  lead  to  the 
summit  of  the  hill,  where  a  rustic  arbor  k,  serves  as  a  resting 
place,  and  aff'ords  a  pleasant  view.  On  the  su}»position  that  the 
surface  on  the  right  of  the  walk  i  (where  it  first  leaves  the 
house),  is  open,  or  clothed  with  a  few  scattered  trees,  we  will 
introduce  a  rich  belt  m,  of  flowering  shrubs  on  the  side  of  this 

•  Always  lay  bare  the  roots,  and  dig  or  cut  out  the  tree  below  the  surface  of 
the  soil.  Tliis  will  leave  the  ground  clear,  and  not  covered  by  straggling 
stumps,  which  it  is  afterwards  more  difTicult  to  extricate  than  to  cut  the  whole 
tree  out  properly. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  141 

walk.  This  belt  will  be  a  pleasant  contrast  in  its  lively  show 
of  blossoms,  to  the  graver  character  of  the  forest  trees,  and  it 
will  serve  the  important  purpose  of  concealing  this  walk  from  a 
person  coming  up  the  approach,  and  vice  versa  ;  a  circum- 
stance which  should  never  be  lost  sight  of  in  places  of  moderate 
size,  where  it  is  always  desirable  to  increase  their  apparent 
dimensions. 

On  the  line  of  this  approach,  as  there  were  not  trees  in  suffi- 
cient abundance  to  give  it  a  wooded  appearance,  we  should  plant 
some  fine  maples,  elms,  and  sycamores,  and  near  the  house  some 
European  larches,  Scotch  elms,  and  other  exotic  trees.  As  the 
trees  already  clothing  the  place  are  large,  and  as  all  newly  plant- 
ed trees  will  therefore  be  likely  to  look  somewhat  insignificant  for 
a  few  years,  we  should  be  careful  to  prepare  the  soil  thoroughly, 
as  previously  described,  before  planting  them.  This  will  not 
only  cause  them  to  grow  much  more  vigorously,  but  it  will 
give  them  almost  at  once  a  luxuriant  appearance,  which  goes 
very  far  to  lessen  the  apparent  disparity  between  a  large  tree 
and  a  small  one  ;  as  we  never  despair  of  that  which  we  see 
making  rapid  advances. 

A  regular,  symmetrical  flower  garden  is  only  in  good  keep- 
ing with  a  Grecian,  Italian,  or  other  highly  architectural  build- 
ing. For  a  cottage  of  a  highly  rural  air,  like  the  present 
something  is  required  of  a  less  formal  character,  and  which 
shall  leave  a  little  more  room  for  the  exercise  of  the  fancy. 
Such  an  irregular  flower  garden  n,  we  have  designated  (on 
a  very  small  scale)  on  the  right  of  the  house,  which  is  looked 
into  from  the  drawing-room  windows.  It  will  be  seen  that  the 
beds  are  irregular,  and  that  the  whole  garden  is  surrounded  by 
an  irregular  plantation  of  small  ornamental  trees  and  flowering 


142  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

shrubs.*  The  beds  may  be  surrounded  by  turf  kept  neatly 
mown,  or  by  gravel  ;  or  a  gravel  walk  may  be  led  through  the 
centre  of  the  space  between  the  beds,  and  a  border  of  turf 
left  on  either  side  wide  enough  for  walking  upon.  The  latter 
will  perhaps  be  the  preferable  mode,  as  in  damp  weather  the 
hard,  firm  gravel  will  be  preferred,  and  in  warm  sunny  days 
the  soft  turf  will  be  more  agreeable  to  the  tread. 

The  kitchen  garden  o,  is  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  in  a 
sheltered  position  between  the  rising  ground  on  either  side. 
From  the  barn  and  stables  a  lane  p,  leads  to  the  farm  land  in 
grass  and  tillage  beyond,  which  has  a  separate  back  entrance 
leading  into  the  public  road. 

When  a  place  like  this  occurs,  as  it  occasionally  does,  in  the 
midst  of  a  more  cultivated  and  less  wooded  neighborhood,  it  will 
be  a  delightful  surprise,  with  its  highly  picturesque  air,  to  a 
stranger  entering  it  for  the  first  time.  It  will  be  a  much  easier 
place  to  render  effective  than  a  level  plain  with  few  trees,  if 
we  carefully  study  the  natural  expression  of  the  scene,  and  only 
attempt  to  heighten,  not  to  alter  it  by  our  improvements.  In 
the  wooded  walk,  which  is  the  principal  feature  of  interest  in 
this  place,  there  will  doubtless  be  many  beautiful  wild  plants 
growing  naturally.  These  we  should  by  all  means  foster,  and 
we  may  increase  their  charm  by  collecting  from  other  and 
richer  localities  all  the  ornamental  indigenous  plants,  which 
may  be  made  to  thrive  in  such  a  situation. 


•  A  larger  plan  of  a  flower  garden  of  this  description  may  be  found  in  our 
Treatise  on  Landscape  Gardening.  ' 


A  SMALL  COTTAGE,  OR  OATE  LODGE. 


Fitj.   61 


♦it    o; 


V  IS    'j'-i 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  143 

A  cottage  in  the  same  style,  suitable  for  a  gate  lodge  for  this 
residence,  or  for  a  small  family. 

In  the  opposite  illustration,  Fig.  61,  we  have  indicated  a 
very  simple  cottage  in  the  same  style  as  Design  VII.,  which 
would  be  well  adapted  for  a  lodge  at  the  entrance  gate  b.  In 
this  situation  it  would  probably  be  occupied  by  the  gardener, 
the  farmer,  or  some  family  in  the  employment  of  the  proprietor 
of  this  residence.  When  a  stranger  entered  the  place,  this  cot- 
tage would  of  course  first  arrest  his  attention,  and  with  its  old 
English,  and  pretty,  rural  expression,  would  serve  as  a  prelude 
or  agreeable  preparation  for  the  more  varied  and  extensive 
cottage  of  the  owner  of  the  demesne. 

It  would  otherwise  make  a  neat  and  picturesque  dwelling,  if 
properly  located,  for  a  small,  respectable  family,  who  wish  to 
lead  a  quiet  and  simple  life.  Although  its  accommodation  is 
limited,  yet  it  may  be  made  to  assume  an  air  of  taste  and  neat- 
ness, always  agreeable  to  the  mind,  and  often  more  striking 
in  its  effect,  when  met  with  in  perfection  in  a  charming  little 
cottage,  than  in  a  stately  mansion. 

An  examination  of  the  plans  of  the  interior.  Figs.  62  and  63, 
will  show  the  arrangement  of  the  rooms.  There  is  a  parlor 
or  living  room,  lighted  by  two  windows,  one  of  them  a  bay 
wuidow,  and  adjoining  it  a  pantry,  a  bedroom,  and  kitchen  on 
the  first  floor.  On  the  second  floor  are  two  bedrooms,  a  large 
closet  or  wardrobe,  and  a  smaller  closet  for  linen.  The 
kitchen  is  a  wing  added  in  the  rear,  with  a  gable  and  roof  join- 
ing the  main  roof  in  a  similar  manner  to  that  over  the  porch 
in  the  view  of  the  front.     The  construction  of  this  cottage  is  so 


144  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

similar  to  that  of  Design  VII.  just  described,  that  we  need  not 
repeat  the  details. 

Much  of  the  pleasing  effect  of  the  most  ornamental  English 
cottages  of  this  kind,  arises  from  the  employment  of  vines  and 
other  climbing  plants  of  different  sorts,  which,  growing  over 
and  partly  concealing  portions  of  the  exterior,  render  them,  rich 
with  blossoms,  verdure,  and  fragrance,  perfect  wonders  of  rural 
beauty.  For  this  purpose  our  Virginia  creeper,  the  Trumpet 
monthly  Honeysuckles,  the  Boursault,  the  Double  Prairie,  and 
the  English  White  Climbing   Roses,  are  most  suitable  in  this 

climate. 

Estimate.     This  cottage  may  be  built  of  wood  for  $830. 


DESIGN  VIII 
A  VILLA.  IN  THE  ITALIAN  STYLK 


Fig.    64. 


PRINCIPAL       FLOOR 


Fig    CO 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  145 


DESIGN   VIII. 
A  Villa  in  the  Italian  Style. 

This  is  a  design  in  the  modern  Italian  style,  some  of  the 
merits  of  which  we  have  previously  pointed  out.  It  will  be  at 
once  perceived  that,  while  this  mode  retains  much  of  the  ex- 
pression of  the  Grecian  style,  it  has  far  more  variety,  and 
a  much  more  domestic  character  than  the  latter.  The  cha- 
racteristic quality  of  the  purest  specimens  of  Grecian  architec- 
ture, is  elegant  simplicity,  and  it  is  a  quality  which  is  most 
appropriately  displayed  in  a  temple.  On  the  other  hand  we 
should  say  that  the  characteristic  quality  of  the  modern  Italian 
buildings  is  elegant  variety,  which  is  most  fitly  exhibited  in  a 
tasteful  villa.  The  great  simplicity  of  form  of  the  first  is  high- 
ly suited  to  a  temple,  where  the  singleness  of  purpose  to  which 
it  is  devoted  appears  symbolized  in  the  simple  Oneness  of  the 
whole  edifice ;  the  irregularity  of  the  second  is  equally  in 
unison  with  the  variety  of  wants,  occupations,  and  pleasures, 
which  compose  the  routine  of  domestic  life. 

In  our  last  design  we  have  shown  a  cottage  highly  suited  to 
a  romantic  vale,  or  sylvan  nook,  by  the  rustic  picturesqueness 
of  its  ensemble ;  the  present  one  is  equally  appropriate  for  an 
open  smiling  plain,  diversified  by  hill  and  dale,  and  sprinkled 
with  groups  and  masses  of  trees.  The  more  finished  and  archi- 
tectural character  of  the  building  requires  less  the  support  of 
10 


14G  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

thickets  of  trees  and  intricacy  of  scenery  to  produce  a  harmoni- 
ous union.  The  elegance  of  an  Italian  villa  is  produced  mainly 
by  the  assemblage  of  simple  and  effective  lines  in  its  exterior, 
but  it  is  also  greatly  enhanced  by  the  introduction  of  such 
beautiful  and  refined  features  as  the  terrace  with  its  orna- 
mental balustrade  and  vases,  and  the  balcony  with  its  shade 
or  canopy. 

The  terrace  is  a  paved  walk  or  smooth  area,  higher  than  the 
adjoining  grounds,  and  twenty  or  more  feet  in  width,  surround- 
ed by  a  handsome  balustrade  of  stone,  or  of  wood  formed  to 
imitate  heavy  Italian  balusters.     At  suitable  distances  along  the 
top  of  this  balustrade,  may  be  placed  vases  of  terra  cotta,  artifi- 
cial stone,  or  more  costly  materials,  and  of  classic  forms,  in  pro- 
per keeping  with  the  style  of  the  building.     As  an  object  of 
taste  the  terrace  is  universally  admired,  because  it  serves  to 
connect,  by  a  gradual  transition,  so  highly  artificial  an  object  as 
an  architectural  dwelling,  with  the  more  simple  forms  of  natural 
objects  around.     There  is  felt  to  be  something  incongruous  in 
a  highly  finished  house  set  down,  as  we  sometimes  see  it,  with- 
out the  least  reason  or  preparation,  in  the  middle  of  a  green 
lawn ;  but  let  the  base  of  the  house  extend  itself  by  a  handsome 
terrace,  and  let  the   characteristic  forms   of  the   building  be 
occasionally  repeated  near  by,  in  the  shape  of  a  few  pedestals 
with  vases,  or  other  sculptured  objects,  and  there   is  at  once 
produced  a  harmonious  union  between  the  architecture  and  the 
landscape,  or,    in    other    words,   between    the    house    and    the 
grounds. 

As  an  object  of  utility,  the  terrace  is  a  most  comfortable  and 
agreeable  feature,  affording  a  firm,  dry,  and  secure  walk,  sunny 

and  warm  in  the  mid-day  of  winter,  and  cool  and  airy  in  the 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  147 

mornings  and  evenings  of  summer.  From  it,  in  many  situa- 
tions, access  is  had  to  the  flower  garden,  the  luxuriant  creep- 
ing and  climbing  plants  of  which,  enwreathing  gracefully  here 
and  there  the  balustrade,  or  hanging  in  clusters  of  rich  blos- 
soms about  the  sculptured  vase,  increase  the  harmony  growing 
out  of  this  artistically  contrived  union  of  nature  and  art. 

In  this  cottage  villa  of  very  moderate  size,  we  have  endea- 
vored to  combine  several  of  the  peculiar  beauties  of  the  Italian 
style.  Its  facade,  see  Fig.  64,  comprises  a  square  tower  or 
campanile,  an  arcade  or  Italian  veranda,  the  triple,  round- 
arched  windows,  and  the  ridged  or  furrowed  roof ;  and  on  the 
left  is  seen  a  portion  of  the  terrace,  which  extends  along  the 
whole  south  side  of  the  building.  In  the  stack  of  chimneys 
to  the  left,  is  shown  the  usual  Italian  form  ;  in  the  central  one, 
of  loftier  dimensions  (which  we  have  there  introduced  to  im- 
prove the  composition  by  giving  it  a  more  pyramidal  outline),. 
we  have  copied  one  not  uncommon  in  Florence. 

In  its  accommodation  this  house  is  moderate,  and  yet  we 
trust  it  will  be  found  convenient  and  agreeable.  The  front 
door  is  approached  from  the  arcade,  or  veranda  of  the  entrance 
front,  Fig.  65.  Opening  this  we  arrive  in  the  entrance-hall, 
which  may  be  very  completely  connected  with  the  veranda 
when  the  door  and  window  are  open  in  summer.  The  stair- 
case is  conveniently,  and  yet  privately  situated,  as  it  is  placed 
in  a  separate  division  of  the  hall,  which  may  be  excluded  any 
time  by  a  door  between  them.  At  the  side  of  the  hall  opposite 
the  front  door,  is  the  dining-room,  17  by  20  feet,  with  a  pantry 
opening  into  it  on  the  left.  Proceeding  to  the  door  at  the  left 
end  of  the  hall,  we  enter  the  drawing-room,  20  by  22  feet, 
opening  by  its  two  casement  windows  to  the  terrace,  and  en- 


148 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


joying  a  fine  view  of  the  lawn  through  the  large  projecting 
window  on  the  front.  Directly  in  the  rear  of  this  room  is  the 
library,  more  quiet  and  secluded  in  its  position,  and  of  less 
size,  but  therefore  more  in  character  with  the  purposes  for 
which  it  is  destined. 

We  must  not  forget  the  boudoir,  situated  at  the  other  ex- 
tremity of  the  hall,  wliicli  occupies  the  lower  jiart  of  the 
tower.  This  may  be  very  tastefully  and  prettily  fitted  up,  and 
used  by  the  lady  of  the  house  as  a  morning  room  for  receiving 
social  calls  ;  or,  if  preferred,  it  would  serve  admirably  as  a 
dressing-room,  and  with  a  cabinet  bedstead,  as  a  bedroom  at 
night  when  necessary.  There  is  a  private,  or  back  door  to  the 
hall,  at  the  end  of  the  passage  leading  into  this  boudoir. 


■""""T^ 

W                        uKP^—^ 

^■B  -■— r- ^^^H 

I 

m          18  X  20              pj 

= 

1 

17X20          U 
-           a    g-      -1 

SECOND   FLOOR 

[Fig.66.J 


By  a  glance  at  the  plan  of  the  second  floor,  Fig.  6G,  the 
number  and  sizes  of  the  sleeping  apartments  will  be  readily 
understood.  There  are  five  bedrooms,  of  different  dimensions, 
including  that  in  the  tower,  from  which  a  light  and  fanciful 
open  stairs  may  lead  to  tlie  apartment  in  the  campanile,  serving 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  149 

as  a  belvidere  or  observatory.  There  is  a  large  linen  closet  in 
the  front  hall,  and  wardrobe-closets  may  be  made  in  each  of 
the  bedrooms. 

The  basement  of  this  house  may  contain  a  kitchen  directly 
beneath  the  dining-room,  a  cellar  under  the  drawing-room,  a 
store-room  and  laundry  under  the  library,  and  a  man-servant's 
bed-room  in  the  basement  of  the  tower. 

Although  from  the  strong  contrasts  of  light  and  shade  in  an 
Italian  elevation  like  this,  there  is  much  boldness  and  painter- 
like effect,  yet,  as  these  arise  chiefly  from  the  employment  of  a 
few"  strong  lines  and  well  marked  features,  the  Italian,  it  will  be 
perceived,  is  a  comparatively  easy  and  an  economical  style. 
In  this  country,  especially,  it  will  for  some  time  be  found  that  a 
building  in  this  style  may  be  erected  with  less  trouble  than  one 
like  the  preceding  design,  because  the  ordinary  mechanics  are 
all  familiar  with  the  details  of  Grecian  architecture,  which  are 
chiefly  employed,  with  slight  variations,  in  its  execution. 

An  important  advantage  which  the  Italian  architecture  pos- 
sesses over  the  Greek,  is  the  very  great  capacity  which  its 
irregular  form  oflers  for  additions  that  may  be  wanted  at  any 
future  period.  One  of  our  Greek-temple  dwelling-houses,  on 
the  other  hand,  is  originally  so  complete  in  its  form,  that  its  fair 
proportions  would  be  greatly  marred  by  adding  any  apartments 
that  the  comfort  or  convenience  of  the  family  might  suf^o-est, 
when  increased  in  wealth  or  number.  In  carrying  the  present 
design  into  practice,  should  it  be  preferred  to  enlarge  or  extend 
it  by  adding  a  kitchen  and  oflices  on  the  first  floor,  a  M'ing  for 
this  purpose  might  be  extended  to  the  right  of  the  dining-room, 
a  little  in  the  rear  of  the  tower,  which,  if  judiciously  composed, 
would  heighten  the  effect  of  the  w^hole  pile  of  building,  by  giv- 


150 


COTTAOE     RESIDENCES. 


ing  it  greater  extent  and  irregularity,  two  important  elements 
of  beauty  in  Italian  villa  architecture. 

Construction.  We  would  either  build  this  house  of  the 
smoothest  and  best  brick,  and  paint  it  in  some  soft,  pleasing 
shade,  or  of  the  roughest  brick,  and 
coat  it  with  the  best  cement,  color- 
ed  to  resemble  a  light  mellow  stone.  *'* 
The  solidity  of  the  architecture  would 
scarcely  permit  the  employment  of  ;| 
t/joorf,  as  a  material  for  the  whole  of  ""-'  '"  ' 

this  edifice,  although  the  lighter  character  of  the  bracketted 
Italian  (Design  V.)  is  well  suited  to  wood.  Should  economy 
oblige  us  to  construct  the  balcony  and  terrace  balustrades  of 
wood,  they  should  be  made  in  a  bold  manner,  and  thoroughly 
painted  and  sanded,  to  imitate  the  material  of  the  house.  In 
Fig.  67  is  shown  the  Italian  balcony,  in  Fig.  68,  the  arcade  on 


iM^^A^tMMimUU 


A    R   C   A  D    E 


TFig.  6e.j 


the  entrance  front,  both  to  a  larger  scale.     The  central  Flo- 
rentine chimney,  which  is  of  a  very  handsome  description,  is 


COTTAGE     RESIDEXCES.  151 

shown  in  Fig.  69.  The  body  of  this  chimney- 
top  may  be  built  of  common  bricks,  and  the  or- 
namental apex  or  summit  of  cut  stone. 

The  roof  is  one  of  the  most  striking  features 
in  this  style,  which  arises  (on  the  continent) 
from  its  being  made  ornamental  by  employing 

ii||l!ii|jililllill!ll        large  furrowed  tiles.     When  these  are  not  at 

liiiilliiilHlllili.ilB 

[Fig.  69.J  hand,  the  effect  may  be  easily  imitated,  by  a 

covering  of  tin  or  zinc  put  on  in  the  ridge  manner,  the  ribs 
being  made  bold  and  heavy.  This  is  not  only  a  handsome,  but 
an  equally  economical  and  a  much  more  secure  mode,  than  the 
common  one,  of  soldering  the  whole  surface,  generally  prac- 
tised. The  roof  of  a  house  in  this  style,  is  made  sufficiently 
steep  to  render  the  latter  unnecessary.  In  painting  it,  either  a 
dark  browTi  or  slate  color  should  be  chosen. 

Estimate.     This  design  would  cost  $7800,  if  the  balustrades, 
etc.,  were  cut  of  free-stone.     If  made  of  wood  $7600. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  GROUNDS. 

A  house  like  this  would  naturally  demand  a  situation  where 
some  considerable  extent  of  ground  could  be  obtained.  It 
would  be  highly  suitable  for  a  handsome  villa  residence  in  the 
country,  of  a  moderate  size,  comprising  from  80  to  150  acres  of 
land.  A  large  portion  of  this  would  be  kept  under  culture,  and 
would  serve  to  give  employment  to  the  proprietor  in  his  cha- 
racter of  an  amateur  farmer.  Near  the  house  ten  or  twenty 
acres  may  be  devoted  to  lawn,  all  of  which  may  be  kept 
mown  ;  that  nearest  the  house  being  of  course  more  neatly  and 
more  frequently  clipped  by  the  scythe,  to  accord  with  the  air  of 


152  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

elegance  and  polish  always  to  be  observed  in  the  precincts  of  a 
handsome  dwelling. 

In  the  plan  here  given,  Fig.  70,  we  have  attempted  to  con- 
vey an  idea  of  the  arrangement  of  that  portion  of  the  grounds 
directly  about  the  house,  as  our  previous  examples  have 
probably  given  sufficient  hints  to  the  management  of  the  more 
distant  and  extended  portions,  including  the  approach.  The 
trees  introduced  in  this  design  should  be  chiefly  those  of  large 
finely  rounded  heads,  aud  graceful  sweeping  branches,  and  they 
should  be  grouped  in  such  a  manner  as  to  allow  them  to  deve- 
lope  themselves  in  their  utmost  beauty  of  form  on  every  side. 

The  dwelling  a,  we  have  placed  on  a  little  table  of  land 
descending  gently  on  every  side,  and  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  distant  from  the  shore  of  a  pretty  little  natural  lake 
on  the  left.  The  approach  leading  from  the  public  road 
through  the  demesne  to  the  house  is  shown,  in  part,  at  h;  a 
gravelled  sweep  for  carriages  c  is  formed  in  front  of  the  arcade, 
and  the  road  d,  leading  to  the  stable  and  farm  buildings, 
branches  off  at  the  right  of  the  house. 

The  most  important  feature  in  this  plan  which  we  shall  en- 
deavor to  describe  here,  is  the  architectural  flower  garden  e, 
which  will  be  seen  occupying  a  considerable  space  on  the  left 
of  the  house.  The  terrace  /,  the  beauty  and  utility  of  which 
we  have  already  insisted  upon,  lies  in  this  direction,  serving  as 
a  kind  of  beautiful  extended  base  to  the  house.  We  shall  sup- 
pose this  idea  still  further  carried  out  in  the  architectural  flower 
garden,  which  surrounds  this  terrace,  and  which,  lying  directly 
below  it,  afl"ords  a  fine  display  from  the  windows  of  the  draw- 
ing-room and  library. 

We  are  not  admirers  of  geometric  or  formal  flower  gardens 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


153 


(^'? 
^ 


[Fig.  70.] 


154  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

like  this,  considered  by  themselves,  and   merely  as  flower  gar- 
dens, because  we  think  a  natural  arrangement  is  more  replete 
with  beauty  and  grace,  and  is  capable  of  afl'ording  a   much 
higher  kind  of  pleasure.     But  this  kind  of  architectural  flower 
garden,  so  common  in  Italy,  and  so  appropriate  an  accompani- 
ment to  residences  of  tiiis  kind,  requires  to  be  regarded  in 
another  light.     It  is  not  only  a  garden  for  the  display  of  plants, 
but  it  is  a  garden  of  architectural  and  floral  beauty  combined ; 
it  is  as  much  an  accessary  of  the  building  as  a  portion  of  the 
grounds,  and  therefore  it  very  properly  exhibits  much  of  the 
regularity  and  symmetry  of  architectural  forms  and  composi- 
tions.    It  contains  plants,  trees,  and  shrubs,  it  is  true,  in  great 
profusion,  but  the  beauty  of  these  is  heightened,  and  rendered 
more  brilliant,  by  the  introduction  of  elegant  vases,  sculptured 
urns,  or  perhaps  a  few  statues  of  floral  deities,  or  busts  of  distin- 
guished persons.     Those  who  have  never  seen  the  lively  effect 
that  may  be  produced  by  a  garden  of  this  kind,  joined  to  an  ele- 
gant villa,  the  architectural  forms  of  which  seem  repeated  in 
the  garden  and    thus   beautifully  harmonized  with  nature,  can 
scarcely  conceive  how  charming  it  appears.     A  summer  moon- 
light walk  on  this  terrace,  while  we  hear  the  silence  broken 
only  by  the  gentle  murmur  of  the  fountain  at  e,  and  see,  softly 
gleaming  in  the  silvery  beams,  the  sculptured  vases,  clustered 
over   partially    by   luxuriant   climbers,   and    backed   by    dark 
masses  of  rich  waving  shrubs  and  flowers,  would  be  sufficient 
to  remind  one,  of  even  the  most  indifferent  poetical  tempera- 
ment, of  the  garden  of  Boccaccio, 

Where,  half  conceal'd,  the  eye  of  fancy  views 
Fauns,  nymphs,  and  winged  sainls,  all  gracious  to  hi; 


his  muse ! 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  155 


Still  in  the  garden  let  me  watch  their  pranks, 
And  see  in  Dian's  vest  between  the  ranks 
Of  the  trim  vines,  some  maid  that  half  believes 
The  vestal  fires,  of  which  her  lover  grieves, 
With  tliat  sly  satyr  peeping  through  the  leaves  ! 


Coleridge. 


In  the  example  of  this  kind  of  garden  attached  to  this  house 
we  should  not  expect  to  find  so  costly  a  decoration  as  marble 
vases  introduced,  but  all  the  beauty  of  form,  and  nearly  all  that 
of  material  may  be  obtained  at  a  very  moderate  cost,  suited  to 
our  more  economical  habits  in  this  country,  in  vases  and  orna- 
ments of  terra  cotta,  or  artificial  stone.*  The  exorbitant  price 
paid  for  some  single  article  of  fashionable  furniture,  such  as  we 
not  unfrequently  find  in  our  country-houses  of  this  class,  would 
embellish  a  whole  architectural  garden  with  vases. 

It  should  always  be  remembered  that  all 
vases,  urns,  or  other  sculptured  ornaments  for 
gardens  or  grounds,  should  be  placed  on  pro- 
per pedestals,  plinths,  or  bases,  to  serve  as  a 
firm  support.  A  pedestal  not  only  secures  a 
firm  and  an  upright  position,  but  it  gives  a 
dignity  and  importance  to  the  vase  as  a  work  ^ 
of  art,  which  it  would  not  have  if  it  were 
loosely  and  carelessly  placed  upon  the  ground, 
or  the  gravel  walk.     A  simple  form  for  such  ^^'s-  "^-^ 

a  pedestal  is  shown  in  Fig.  71,  &,  but  a  great  variety  of  a  more 

*  Some  specimens  of  terra  cotta  vases  may  be  found  at  the  Salamander  Works, 
Cannon-street,  New  York.  Those  in  artificial  stone  may  be  had  at  Gibson'sor 
Goodwin's  Warehouses. 


1^^^ I 


15G  COTTAGE     IlKSIDEN'CES. 

ornamental  description  will  be  suggested  by  a  study  of  clas- 
sical antique  designs. 

This  garden,  octagonal  in  its  form,  we  would  surround  by  a 
light  and  low  balustrade-like  fence,  k,  to  be  partially  concealed 
by  creepers.  At  the  angles  of  this  fence  we  would  place  pedestals 
for  supports  m,  each  to  be  crowned  by  a  vase  of  some  simple 
form.  These  pedestals,  and  those  in  the  interior  of  the  garden 
that  we  intend  for  vases,  are  designed  by  the  x  mark  on  the 
plan. 

The  beds,  or  parterres,  for  flowers  we  would  border  with 
box,  that  being  a  very  regular,  architectural  looking  plant,  and 
a  very  permanent  one  for  this  purpose.  The  walks  should  be 
of  gravel,  made  hard  and  firm  by  the  use  of  the  roller.  The 
collection  of  plants  chosen  for  the  garden  may  vary  somewhat 
to  suit  the  taste  of  the  proprietor,  but  the  most  satisfactory  re- 
sult will  be  attained  by  choosing  such  shrubs  and  herbaceous 
plants  as  are  distinguished  for  richness  and  depth  of  color  in 
their  foliage,  and  for  a  massy  and  luxuriant  habit  of  growth,  as 
well  as  for  beauty  or  delicacy  of  blossom.  All  lean,  starved, 
and  meagre  looking  plants,  mere  botanical  rarities,  or  such  as 
are  pretty  f(jr  a  short  time,  and  then  only  remain  to  offend  the 
eye  and  destroy  the  general  ensemble  of  luxuriant  verdure  and 
bloom,  should  be  rejected  from  a  garden  of  this  kind. 

It  will  be  a  fortunate  circumstance  should  a  spring  exist 
somewhere  on  a  neighboring  height,  whence  it  may  be  brought 
in  concealed  pipes  to  supply  this  fountain.  When  this  is  out 
of  the  question,  a  cistern  constructed  in  the  upper  story  of  some 
outbuilding,  at  no  great  distance,  may  afford  a  suflicient  supply 
for  playing  in  the  evening,  or  at  certain  times  during  the  day. 
The  French  have  an   ingenious  method  of  raisinc;  water  from 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  157 

a  well  for  this  purpose,  which  has  been  put  in  practice  in  some 
places  in  this  country  at  little  expense.  A  small  wooden  tower 
or  square  building  is  placed  in  a  convenient  position,  over  a 
well,  and  where  it  is  not  a  too  conspicuous  object,  and  fur- 
nished with  sails  like  a  windmill,  and  a  simple  shaft  and  appa- 
ratus for  drawing  water  by  means  of  a  pump  to  a  cistern  of 
good  capacity  in  the  top  of  the  tower.  This  will  furnish  a 
fountain,  or  jet  d'eau  of  moderate  size,  with  a  sufficient  sup- 
ply of  water  during  the  whole  summer  at  little  trouble,  and 
without  intermission,  if  the  cistern  be  made  large  enough  to 
hold  a  small  over-supply  for  an  occasional  calm  day. 


158  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN    IX. 

A  cottage  in  the  Itnlian,  or  Tuscan  style. 

The  design  for  this  collage,  Fig.  72,  has  been  kindly  sent  us 
for  this  work  by  J.  Notman,  Esq.,  Architect,  of  Philadelphia. 

Although  its  details  are  very  simple  and  will  be  understood 
at  a  glance,  and  the  cottage  is  only  of  very  moderate  dimen- 
sions, yet  the  variety  of  outline  wliich  it  exhibits,  makes  it  ap- 
pear a  house  of  much  larger  size  than  it  really  is.  The  pro- 
jection of  the  roof,  and  the  ornamental  cornice,  as  well  as  the 
heavy  and  appropriate  window  dressings,  bestow  at  once  an 
expression  of  some  elegance,  and  render  the  house  superior  to 
the  ordinary  dwellings  of  this  class. 

In  the  plan  of  the  i)rinci));il  story  Fig.  73,  there  is  an  entrance 
hall  with  a  handsome  staircase,  and  an  apartment  on  either 
side;  that  on  the  right  being  a  parlor,  and  that  on  the  left  a 
dining-room.  In  the  |)iers  on  either  side  of  the  staircase,  are 
spaces  whii'h  designate  hot-air  flues,  which  j)r'»cecd  from  the 
furuai'c  in  llie  liasemcnt,  and  by  means  of  registers,  warm  all 
the  apartments  in  the  house,  altliDUgh  the  four  principal  ones 
have  fire-places  besides,  for  <jccasionaI  use  if  necessary. 

The  first  flight  of  stairs  ascends  half  the  story,  and  on  a  level 
with  the  landing  here  is  the  broad  and  airy  balcony  in  the  rear, 
entered  by  a  fair  round-headed  window,  opening  to  the  floor. 


DESIGN  IX. 

A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  ITALIAN,  OR  TDSCA.1\  STYLE 


Fig 


PRINCIPAL      FLOOR 


Fig.   73. 


COTTAGK     RI'Sinr.XCES. 


159 


Underneath,  this  hah-nny  forms  a  kind  n\  partly  enclosed  apart- 
ment, serving  as  a  wash-room  or  onter-kitchen  in  summer. 

There  is  also  a  bah-ony  over  the  recessed  j)orch  in  iVont, 
which  is  a  pleasant  appendage  to  the  chamber  floor.  This 
floor,  Fig.  74,  affords  three  pleasant  bedrooms,  and  there  is  a 


SECOND      STORY 

[Kis  74.1 


fourth  of  more  ample  size  in  the  third  storv  of  the  central  por- 
tion of  the  cottage,  which  is,  both  with  regard  to  its  ]>ropor- 
tions  and  the  fine  bird's-eye  view  it  commands,  a  verv  pleasant 
apartment. 

The  plan  of  the  basement.  Fig,  75,  sutricientlv  explains  itself. 


[Fig.  75.] 


160  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

In  the  middle  of  the  hall  below  is  the  furnace  for  supplying 
heated  air,  and  on  cither  side  are  the  kitchen,  the  store-room, 
and  the  fuel  cellar. 

This  design,  Mr.  Nutinan  remarks,  might  he  altered  and  im- 
proved, without  any  variation  of  the  present  form,  by  elongat- 
ing the  flanks,  and  adding  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the  rear.  It  may 
be  built  of  brick  and  cement,  or  of  wood  ;  and  a  very  simple 
kind  of  interior  fmish  would  be  in  the  best  taste  for  a  cottage 
of  this  class.  The  roof  may  be  covered  with  tin,  zinc,  or 
shingles,  and  the  joints,  between  the  roof  of  the  wings  and  the 
wall  of  the  central  portion,  should  be  well  j)rotected  by  broad 
lead  or  copper  flashings,  or  strips,  running  up  a  foot  or  more  on 
the  roof  and  wall,  and  being  built-in  the  latter  in  the  usual  man- 
ner. 

Estimate.  This  cottage,  well  constructed  of  solid  materials, 
and  neatly  finished,  would  cost  $3000.  If  built  of  wood,  fdled 
in  with  brick,  the  expense  might  be  slightly  reduced.  The  de- 
sign has  been  executed  in  a  more  elegant  and  costly  manner 
near  Philadelphia. 

ARRANGEMENT    OF    THE    GROUND. 

For  the  sake  of  illustration,  we  shall  suppose  this  to  be  a 
suburl)an  dwelling.  j)laced  upon  a  long  and  narrow  lot  of 
ground,  that  being  the  most  common  form  near  towns,  and  the 
most  didicult  one  to  render  agreeable  or  interesting.  Its  di- 
mensions may  be  120  feet  broad  by  375  feet  deep,  and  it  may 
extend  from  the  street  in  front  to  another  in  the  rear. 

The  first  object  of  the  proprietor  of  this  cottage  we  shall  sup- 
pose to  be  the  production  of  a  large  crop  of  fruit  and  vegeta- 


COTTAGK     RESIDEXCKS.  161 

bles  of  every  description,  and  the  second  to  render  the  wliole 
garden  rather  tasteful  and  agreeable,  l)y  a  skiltnl  distribution  of 
his  materials  and  arrangement  of  Avalks.  We  sliall  suppose  no 
trees  introduced  solely  for  ornament,  except  on  the  small  lawn 
or  area  of  grass  in  the  front  of  the  dwelling,  and  those  border- 
ing" the  irregular  walk  on  the  left ;  and  even  in  these  situations 
a  j)referencc  will  be  given  to  ornamental  fruit-hear hv^  trees,  as 
the  Black  Mulberry,  the  English  Walnut,  the  Spanish  Cliest- 
nut,  and  the  thin-shelled  Almond  among  trees,  and  the  produc- 
tive varieties  of  filberts,  etc.,  among  shrubs. 

In  the  plan.  Fig.  70,  the  entrance  gates  are  placed  at  a,  the 
house  at  h,  the  stable  and  yard  at  c.  On  either  side  of  the 
house  is  an  area  of  turf,  studded  with  a  few  ornamental  trees  of 
such  species  as  are  thought  desirable.  The  plot  i^,  in  the  rear 
of  the  house,  is  also  devoted  to  gra^s,  but  it  is  planted  with  a 
small  orchard  of  fruits  of  the  hardier  and  more  rapid  growing 
kinds,  cherries,  pears,  or  such  other  trees  as  will  succeed  tolera- 
bly well  in  a  surface  kept  in  grass.  This  orchard  is  planted  in 
the  picturesque  maimer,  that  is  in  irregular  groups,  as  it  is  seen 
directly  Irom  the  house,  and  therefore  would  l)e  most  agreeable 
in  this  form.  The  second  compartment  //,  is  another  orchard  ot" 
such  choice  fruit  trees  as  require  more  care,  and  the  ground 
around  which  is  to  be  kept  open  by  culture,  and  may  be  plant- 
ed annually  with  various  crops  of  vegetables  with  advantage  to 
the  trees,  and  economy  of  space. 

The  third  compartment  i,  is  the  kitchen  garden,  the  area  of 

which  is  to  be   kept  free  from  trees  and  devoted   entirely  to 

vegetables.     There  is  a  walk  k,  sufficiently  wide  for  a  cart  or 

wagon,   leading  from    the  stable  c,  to   the  street  in  the  rear, 

which  gives  access  to  the  stable  and  affords  an  opportunity  of 
11 


162 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


|Flg.  76| 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  163 

supplying  the  garden  with  compost,  or  carrying  away  Utter,  or 
garden  products,  without  passing  by  the  house,  or  having  re- 
course to  the  front  entrance.  The  long  border  I,  may  be  de- 
voted, in  different  parts,  to  grape  vines,  strawberries,  and  other 
small  fruits,  or  to  rhubarb,  and  other  esculent  plants. 

As  a  counterpart  to  this  long  walk,  which  is  strictly  useful  in 
its  character,  we  have  another  m,  on  the  opposite  side,  winding 
and  graceful  in  its  direction,  and  bordered  by  a  miscellaneous 
collection  of  small  flowering  trees  and  shrubs.  These  shrubs, 
as  we  have  before  suggested,  may  be  interspersed  with  the  pro- 
ductive varieties  of  English  filberts,  the  Siberian  crab,  and  other 
small  fruits  used  for  preserves,  and  also  with  dwarf  apples  and 
pears,  which,  growing  only  a  few  feet  high,  will,  when  in  fine 
bearing,  be  very  ornamental  objects.  The  border  or  belt  of 
shrubs  varying  in  width  from  three,  to  fourteen  or  more  feet, 
should  be  continued  on  both  sides  of  this  walk,  as  the  object  of 
it  is,  not  only  to  render  the  walk  interesting  by  the  variety  of 
shrubs,  but  also  to  render  this  portion  of  the  garden  complete 
in  itself,  by  preventing,  as  much  as  possible,  the  eye  from  seeing 
the  kitchen  garden  or  other  compartments  on  the  right,  at  the 
same  time  with  the  scene  formed  by  the  walk  and  its  boundary 
or  fringe  of  shrubs,  A  person  after  having  walked  along  the 
whole  course  of  the  irregular  walk  m,  may  vary  the  impression 
received,  either  by  returning  through  the  straight  walk  k,  of  the 
kitchen  garden,  or,  if  it  is  preferred,  he  may  return  partly  in  a 
new  course  of  curved  walks,  by  taking  the  cross  walks  n,  in  his 
way. 

We  have  indicated  by  the  dotted  outline  at  o,  how  a  conser- 
vatory might  be  added  on  the  left  wing  of  this  house,  which 
might  be  warmed  either  by  a  flue,  or  by  warm  water  pipes 


164  COTTAGE    RESIDENCES. 

connected  with  the  fire-place  of  the  dining  room,  or  the  kitchen 
below.  This  should  be  on  a  level  with  the  principal  floor,  and 
should  of  course  be  entered  by  a  glazed  door  from  the  dining- 
room.  As  the  wall  of  the  house  would  form  one  side,  or  rather 
the  back  of  the  conservatory,  it  could  be  more  economically 
constructed,  and  kept  warm  at  less  expense,  than  a  detached 
greenhouse. 

The  grass  on  the  areas  /  and  g,  should  be  mown  at  least 
once  a  fortnight  during  summer.  This,  if  it  is  successively 
performed  on  the  different  portions,  will  go  far  towards  supply- 
ing a  horse  or  cow  with  green  fodder  during  the  growing  sea- 
son, and  by  the  frequent  cutting,  tlie  beauty  and  verdure  of  the 
lawn  will  be  greatly  improved. 

The  grounds  of  a  cottage  ornee  like  this,  while  they  would 
afford  a  considerable  quantity  and  variety  of  valuable  products, 
would,  we  think  all  will  admit,  be  far  more  agreeable  and  inte- 
resting than  the  common  rectangular  lots,  so  general  in  the 
suburbs  of  our  towns,  and  which  are  so  entirely  destitute  of 
beauty  of  design. 


A  VILLA  IK  THE  POINTED  STYLE. 


^ 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  165 


DESIGN    X. 

A  villa  of  the  first  class,  in  the  Pointed  style. 

This  design  of  a  Pointed  Villa,  by  A.  J.  Davis,  Esq.,  Archi- 
tect, although  a  much  larger  and  more  elaborate  composition 
than  fairly  comes  within  the  scope  of  this  work,  we  have 
introduced  as  a  concluding  example,  both  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  a  more  complete  and  extensive  villa  than  we  have 
hitherto  presented,  and  as  a  specimen  of  the  progress  which 
architectural  taste  is  making  in  this  country;  it  having  been 
recently  designed  by  Mr.  Davis  for  the  country  residence  of 
J^  Rathbone,  Esq.,  of  Albany. 

In  the  annexed  view.  Fig.  77,  the  artist  has  chosen  a  position 
showing  the  north  and  east  fronts  of  the  building,  which  are  to 
be  seen  from  the  river,  the  entrance  front  being  on  the  west 
side,  a  small  portion  of  the  open  porch  or  poi-te  cochere  being 
visible  on  the  right  of  the  house. 

This  villa,  now  completed,  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  Gothic,  or  pointed  style  of  architecture,  in  this 
country.  Although  the  whole  composition  evinces  unity  of 
feeling,  there  is  as  much  variety  of  feature  as  we  ever  remem- 
ber to  have  seen  introduced  successfully  in  a  villa ;  indeed, 
perhaps,  a  greater  variety  of  windows,  gables,  and  buttresses, 
than  could  be  introduced  in  a  building  of  that  size  with  good 
effect,  were  it  not  supported  by  the  corresponding  intricacy 
and  variety   of  the   trees    and    foliage  around   it,  which  are 


16(5  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

here  in  admirable  keeping  -with  the  picturesque  outh"nes  of  the 
edifice. 

Fig.  78  is  a  plan  of  tlie  principal  floor.  A  good  deal  of 
character  is  conferred  on  the  west  or  entrance  front  by  the 
projecting  porch,  which,  extending  entirely  across  the  approach 
road  15  feet,  forms  a  dry,  sheltered  carriage  porch,  under 
which  a  carriage  may  draw  up,  and  the  occupants  alight  dry 
and  sheltered  in  all  weathers. 

If  we  now  enter  and  pass  through  the  vestibule,  we  shall  soon 
find  ourselves  in  a  circular  hall,  16  feet  in  diameter,  that  forms  a 
nucleus  or  radiating  point  from  which  all  the  principal  apart- 
ments diverge.  This  (and  through  it  the  whole  house)  is  heated 
by  a  furnace  in  the  basement.  Directly  beyond  the  hall  is  the 
library,  a  sexangular  apartment,  of  much  beauty  of  propor- 
tion, which  will  command  a  very  striking  view  of  the  Hudson 
from  the  bay  window  at  the  eastern  extremity.  This  bay 
window  should  be  filled  with  rich  stained  glass,  which  would 
produce  a  mellow  tone  of  light  in  this  apartment,  in  admirable 
keeping  with  its  character.  On  the  right  side  of  the  library  is 
another  window  opening  to  the  veranda  or  '•  umbrage,'*  afford- 
ing a  delightful  walk,  with  a  noble  view  of  the  river,  in  its 
southern  course. 

The  dining-room  is  entered  by  another  door  on  the  right  of 
this  hall.  It  is  16  by  24  feet  in  its  dimensions,  and  the  bay  at 
the  south  opens  into  a  conservatory  for  plants,  which  will  give 
this  apartment  an  air  of  summer,  even  in  the  depths  of  a 
northern  winter.  This  conservatory,  forming  as  it  does  a  por- 
tion of  the  veranda,  may  be  entirely  removed  in  summer,  if  it 
should  be  preferred  to  have  the  whole  veranda  open,  by  having 
movable  sashes,  constructed  so  as  to  be  easily  taken  out  iu 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  167 

the  spring,  and  replaced  in  autumn.  The  dining-room  has  a 
china  closet  on  the  right  of  the  chimney  breast ;  a  dumb 
waiter  on  the  left ;  across  the  staircase  hall  is  the  pantry, 
and  the  stairs  descending  to  the  kitchen  and  its  offices,  is 
placed  in  most  convenient  proximity  to  the  door  leading  to  this 
passage. 

The  drawing-room  opens  on  the  left  of  the  hall,  and  forms  a 
suite  with  the  library  and  dining-room.  Its  bay  has  a  charming 
sylvan  view  to  the  north,  and  the  two  windows  on  the  river 
front,  another,  looking  east. 

The  two  remaining  doors  of  the  hall  lead,  on  one  side  to  the 
staircase  hall,  and  on  the  other  into  the  family  bedroom.  The 
latter  has  three  closets,  a  space  for  a  wardrobe,  and  an  alcove 
which  may  be  used  as  a  dressing-room,  or  a  recess  for  placing 
a  bed.  On  the  south  side  of  the  vestibule  is  the  office,  or  gen- 
tleman's own  room,  to  be  neatly  and  appropriately  fitted  up  as 
a  business  room,  or  study,  for  the  master  of  the  house.  The 
dotted  triangular  space  at  the  corner  of  this  office,  indicates  a 
place  for  an  iron  safe  built  in  the  wall.  On  the  north  side  of 
the  vestibule  is  a  large  closet  for  cloaks,  umbrellas,  etc.  This 
story  is  13  feet  in  the  clear,  and  the  dotted  lines  in  the  hall  and 
principal  rooms  show  the  forms  of  the  ribbed  ceilings. 

The  second  floor  contains  six  sleeping  apartments  of  various 
sizes,  a  bath  room,  and  a  water  closet ;  and  the  attic  furnishes 
sleeping  accommodations  for  the  servants.  We  regret  that  we 
are  not  able  to  show,  by  engraved  plans,  the  ample  and  con- 
venient arrangements  of  this  and  the  basement  story. 

The  whole  internal  arrangement  of  this  villa,  by  Mr.  Davis, 
is,  we  think,  highly  remarkable  for  its  elegance,  its  compact- 


168  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

ness,  and  the  abundance  and  convenience  of  its  ^accomnnoda^ 
tions.  While  any  portion  of  the  house  may  by  itself  be  used 
by  the  family  at  any  time,  the  efiect  of  the  entire  first  floor, 
when  thrown  open  at  once,  would  be  more  striking  than  that  of 
many  mansions  we  have  seen  of  four  times  the  size,  where  the 
rooms,  having  no  connexion,  and  being  badly  arranged,  pro- 
duced little  effect  as  a  whole. 

Estimate.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  villa  varies  frona 
$12,000  to  $15,000,  according  to  the  material  adopted,  stone 
or  bricks  (either),  and  the  degree  of  finish  employed  in  the 
interior. 


ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  GROUNDS.         ^ 

The  situation  selected  for  this  i*esidence  is  a  hill  of  consider- 
able extent,  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the  Hudson, 
which  is  densely  wooded  with  a  natural  growth  of  forest  trees. 
The  preference  was  given  to  this  site,  as  its  natural  picturesque- 
ness  and  intricacy,  seemed  to  be  admirably  in  keeping  with  the 
style  of  building  in  view ;  and  also,  as  it  is  found  much 
easier  to  produce,  in  a  short  time,  a  satisfactory  effect,  by  thin- 
ning out  and  improving  a  suitable  natural  wood,  than  by  plant- 
ing and  raising  up  new  growths  of  sylvan  accessories,  where 
none  are  already  existing. 

The  grounds  are  about  120  acres  in  extent.  In  the  accom- 
panying plan,  Fig.  79,  a  considerable  portion  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  site  for  the  house  is  shown.  There  is  a  great 
variety  of  surface,  caused  by  the  undulations  of  the  ground. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 


189 


o  o  o  o  o  o 

O  O  O   O'"©  0    D 

o  tym  o  ^  <^ 


[Fig.  79.] 


170  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

upon  this  area,  which  will  eventually,  if  proper  advantage  is 
taken  of  this  circumstance,  cause  the  demesne  to  appear  of  large 
extent.  In  laying  out  the  grounds,  the  course  of  the  entrance 
road  b,  was  determined  hy  a  natural  depression,  which  afl[<:)rded 
a  much  more  easy  and  suitable  approach,  than  could  be  found 
in  any  other  direction.  The  road  itself  is  not  made  in  the 
bottom  of  the  little  dell,  as  this  would  render  it  wet,  and  even 
liable  to  be  washed  away  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  but 
upon  one  side  of  the  sloping  bank,  at  a  sufficient  height  above 
to  insure  the  dryness  and  firmness  of  the  road  at  all  seasons. 
At  c,  the  road  is  carried  across  a  small  stream,  which  affords 
an  opportunity  of  introducing  a  pretty  rustic  bridge,  construct- 
ed of  the  roots  and  stems  of  the  trees  felled  in  opening  the 
road.  An  object  of  this  kind,  strictly  useful  in  its  chlfcicter, 
when,  as  in  this  case,  it  can  be  legitimately  introduced,  always 
gives  interest  to  a  walk  or  road  through  the  grounds,  although 
it  should  never  be  made  when  there  is  not  some  obvious  pur- 
pose beyond  that  of  mere  ornament. 

There  will  be,  eventually,  an  opportunity  for  creating  a  great 
variety  in  these  grounds,  but  as  an  idea  of  this  kind  of  situation 
can  scarcely,  like  a  flat  surf;ice,  be  conveyed  by  a  mere  plan, 
we  shall  only  designate  a  few  of  the  leading  points  of  interest. 
There  is  an  open  lawn  d,  at  the  south  side  of  the  house,  to  be 
enlivened  by  groups  of  flowering  shrubs  and  plants,  that  will 
contrast  agreeably  with  the  dark  verdure  of  the  thicker 
groups  of  foliage  on  the  other  sides.  At  e,  is  a  rustic  pavilion 
or  summer  house,  Fig.  80,  on  a  knoll  slightly  elevated  above 
the  surrounding  surface.  The  stable  and  other  out-buildings 
are  located  at  g,  the  kitchen  garden  at  //,  and  the  orchard  at  i. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  171 

The  long  and  intricate  walk  j,  which  may  be  led,  at  pleasure, 
a  long  distance  beneath  the  shady,  embowering  branches  of 
tall  beeches,  stately  maples,  and  "melancholy  pines,"  now 
threading  little  dells  filled  with  mosses  and  ferns,  and  dark  with 
forest  verdure,  and  again  emerging  into  sunny  glades,  opened 
among  the  forest  trees  here  and  there,  will  be  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  features  of  the  place. 
The  greatest  charm  of  this  resi- 
dence, when  it  is  completed,  will  be 
the  novelty  and  contrast  expe- 
rienced in  coming  directly  from  the 
highly  artificial  and  populous  city, 
only  a  couple  of  miles  distant,  to  its 
quiet,  secluded  shades,  full  of  wild- 
ness,  only  sufficiently  subdued  by 
art  to  heighten  its  natural  beauty. 

The  principal  difficulty  in  skilfully  treating  a  residence  like 
this,  to  be  formed  on  an  entirely  new  surface,  covered  with 

wood,  lies  in  thinning  out  and  opening  the  wood  judiciously 

in  seizing  on  the  finer  portions  to  be  left,  and  selecting  such  as 
may,  with  greatest  advantage,  be  cleared  away.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind,  as  we  have  previously  urged,  that  few  single 
trees  can  be  left,  but  that  the  thinning  must  be  done  by  opening 
glades  boldly  k,  and  leaving  the  trees  in  groups,  masses,  thick- 
ets, and  groves.  Trimming  up  the  trees,  beyond  what  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  in  removing  dead  branches,  should  never  be 
attempted,  but  unsightly  underwood  should  be  removed,  except 
in  distant  parts,  where  it  is  desired  to  retain  the  wild  and  pictu- 
resque character  of  the  place  for  the  sake  of  contrasting  with 


172  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

the  more  dressed  air  immediately  around  the  house.  In  short, 
the  natural  expression  of  a  place  like  this  must  be  thoroughly 
studied  before  making  any  improvements ;  as  otherwise,  the 
latter  will,  instead  of  heightening  and  developing  its  original 
charm,  only  weaken  and  render  it  incongruous  and  unsatisfac- 
tory. 


ADDENDA. 

Cements  for  the  exterior  of  buildings. — In  the  description  of 
the  preceding  designs,  we  have  frequently  recommended  brick 
and  cement  as  a  mode  of  construction  highly  suitable  for  cot- 
tages. Houses  built  in  this  manner,  will  be  found  much  dryer 
and  warmer  in  winter,  and  much  cooler  in  summer,  than  those 
built  of  wood ;  and  the  greater  solidity  and  durability  of  such 
dwellings,  as  well  as  their  superior  architectural  expression,, 
will  always  render  them  preferable  to  dwellings  built  of  so 
perishable  a  material  as  timber. 

In  speaking  of  brick  and  cement,  however,  we  must  not  be 
understood  as  referring  to  the  wretched  mode  of  plastering  ex- 
terior walls  which  generally  passes  current  under  this  name, 
examples  of  which  may  at  once  occur  to  some  of  our  readers, 
to  prejudice  them  against  the  employment  of  this  mode  of  con- 
struction. Indeed,  there  is  no  subject  hitherto  so  little  under- 
stood by  the  majority  of  our  practical  men,  as  that  of  cements 
suitable  for  resisting  the  attacks  of  the  weather  on  exterior  walls. 
Accordingly  we  not  unfrequently  see  whole  surfaces  of  this 
so-called  cement,  crumbling  and  falling  from  the  walls,  and  the 
proprietor,  lamenting  the  sad  appearance  of  the  exterior  of  his 
dwelling,  protests  loudly  against  all  cements. 

The  fact,  however^  that  there  are,  both  in  this  country  and 
abroad,  numerous  examples  of  cenrtent  resisting  the  attacks  of 
the  weather  for  a  great  length  of  time,  and  becoming  almost  in- 
corporated with  the  solid  wall,  should  teach  our  builders  that 
the  error  lies  in  their  ignorance  of  its  nature,  and  the  proper 
mode  of  mixing  and  laying  it  on. 


174  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

The  frequent  failiiies  in  exterior  cements  arise,  1st,  From  the 
use  of  sand  composed  of  rounded,  worn  particles,  mixed  with 
earthy  matter  ;  2dly,  From  the  employment  of  hydraulic  ce- 
ments of  inferior  or  unsuitable  quality  ;*  3dly,  From  the  use 
of  poor  lime;  and  4liily,  From  imperfect  mixture  and  applica- 
tion of  the  materials. 

If  in  building  of  brick  and  cement,  the  following  particulars 
are  strictly  observed,  we  can  confidently  insure  satisfactory 
results.  The  walls  should  be  laid  of  the  best  hard  brick,  the 
roughness  or  exterior  unevenness  of  which  is  an  advantage. 
In  laying  the  brick-work,  the  outer  surface  of  the  walls  should  not 
be  pointed,  but  the  mortar  only  roughly  struck  off  with  the  trow- 
el ;  indeed,  the  preferable  mode  is  to  spread  the  mortar  in  such  a 
manner,  that  it  may  not  come  quite  to  the  outer  edge  of  the 
» brick-work  in  all  parts,  but  leave  little  recesses  or  slight  cavi- 
ties, which  being  filled  up  by  the  cement,  will  afford  a  more 
perfect  hold  and  lodgment  for  the  exterior  coating. 

Immediately  before  putting  on  the  cement,  the  wall  to  which 
it  is  to  be  applied  must  be  well  scrubbed  with  a  stout  and  coarse 
broom,  and  an  abundance  of  water,  in  order  both  to  get  rid 
of  all  loose  sand,  mortar,  or  other  matter  adhering  to  the  face 
of  the  wall,  and  partially  to  saturate  the  surface  bricks  with 
moisture,  in  order  that  the  cement  ma}^  set  more  equally  and 
gradually. 

"Many  of  the  hydraulic  limes,  or  ccmrnt!»,  of  this  State  arc  totally  unfit  for 
exterior  work,  as  they  contain  a  salt  (muriate  of  soda)  wiiich,  on  the  absorption 
of  water,  crystallizes  upon  the  brick  walls,  and  thus  forces  off  the  cement. 
This  is  the  secret  of  nine-tenths  of  the  failures  in  cementing  houses  in  this  and 
other  sections  of  the  country.  The  hydraulic  lime  that  we  can  best  recommend, 
is  that  of  Berlin,  Ct. 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCES.  175 

In  making  the  cement,  choose  a  hydraulic  lime  that  has  been 
thoroughly  tested,  and  is  known  to  be  well  adapted  to  resist  the 
weather,  in  the  air  as  well  as  under  water,  and  let  it  be  per- 
fectly fresh,  as  it  will  be  nearly  worthless  if  it  has  been  lon^r 
prepared,  unless  it  has  been  kept  entirely  in  air-tight  vessels. 
The  very  best  and  purest  lime  should  also  be  selected,— of  the 
greatest  tenacity  in  mortar,  and  such  as  will  slacken  equally 
throughout.  Especial  pains  should  also  be  taken  to  procure 
sharp,  angular  sand,  which,  if  not  perfectly  clean,  must  be  freed 
from  any  admixture  of  earthy  particles,  by  repeated  washings. 
Let  the  lime  be  thoroughly  slaked,  and  a  good  mortar  be  made, 
in  sufficient  quantity  for  the  whole  of  the  work,  of  the  lime  and 
sand.  When  the  masons  are  ready  for  plastering,  open  one  of 
the  casks  of  cement,  and  mix  the  latter  in  equal  proportions 
with  the  mortar,  making  a  hod  of  the  mixture,  at  a  time,  as  it 
would  otherwise  partially  set  before  it  could  be  used.  Only 
one  coat  of  cement  should  ever  be  put  on,  as  it  will  then  form 
one  homogeneous  mass  with  the  w^all.  Or  rather,  two  layers 
may  be  applied,  directly  one  after  the  other,  which  will  at  once 
form  one.  The  coat  of  lime-putty  frequently  applied  to  stuc- 
coes to  give  '*  an  elegant  finish,"  soon  crumbles  off,  and  hastens 
the  decay  of  the  surface  underneath.  In  finishing  the  surface 
Jloat  it  off  as  smoothly  as  possible,  and  mark  it  off"  in  courses 
to  resemble  stone,  coloring  it  while  the  cement  is  yet  only 
partially  dry,  so  that  the  coloring  matter  may  set  with  the 
cement.* 

*  Such  is  the  most  successful  practice  here.  Experienced  masons  in  England 
use  no  lime.  They  mix  (in  small  quantities,  as  fast  as  it  can  be  used)  the  best 
cement,  which  must  always  be  quite  new,  and  freshly  manufactured,  with  one- 
third  clean-washed  sharp  sand.  This  is  applied  to  the  surface,  and  finished-off 
in  one  coat,  and  is  very  durable. 


176  COTTAGK    RESIDENCES. 

In  mixing  the  coloring  material,  choose  some  of  the  ochres, 
or  earthy  colors,  for  a  base,  rendering  it  liquid  by  the  use  of 
juilk,  and  varying  the  tint  by  adding  other  colors,  until  the  de- 
sired tint  be  obtained.  In  order  to  protect  the  cement  against 
moisture,  it  is  the  practice  of  the  most  successful  plasterers  to 
incorporate  with  tiic  coloring  wash,  or  paint,  a  quantity  of 
thick  boiled  grease  or  fatty  matter,  in  the  proportion  of  six  or 
eight  quarts  to  a  half  barrel  of  the  paint.  The  cement  should 
be  apjtlied  in  fine  weather,  free  from  frost,  and  it  is  better  in  all 
cases,  that  buildings  to  be  covered  by  it  should  be  finished  in 
time  to  allow  them  to  become  thoroughly  dry  before  winter. 
Two  months  will  probably  be  sufficient. 

The  decay  of  cemented  surfaces  arises  most  frequently  from 
the  unsuitable  or  imperfect  construction  of  the  roof  or  cornice 
at  the  eaves,  or  verge-board.  For  this  reason,  buildings  in  the 
Italian  style,  with  bold  projecting  roofs,  generally  retain  the 
cement  in  a  much  more  perfect  state  than  those  with  narrow 
and  slender  copings  or  projections ;  but  a  little  care  exercised 
in  the  first  construction,  will  render  a  well  cemented  house 
much  more  durable,  and  one  requiring  far  less  repairs  than  any 
house  built  of  wood,  or  other  perishable  material. 

Building  Contracts.  The  great  disproportion  frequently 
occurring  between  the  estimate  or  contract,  and  the  final  cost 
of  a  house,  is  a  very  frequent  source  of  disappointment  and 
vexation  to  persons  who  engage  for  the  first  time  in  building. 
The  cottage  or  villa  is  contracted  to  be  built  by  the  mechanics, 
at  a  fair,  or  even  a  low  price,  which  is  quite  satisfactory  to  the 
proprietor ;  but  when  the  building  is  complete,  the  bills  are 
often  found  to  exceed  the  contracting  price  by  one  third  or  one 
half  the  original  sum. 


COTTAGE    RESIDENCES.  177 

This  result  will  always,  on  experience,  be  found  to  arise  from 
two  causes.  The  first  of  these  is  the  want  of  a  well  digested 
and  thoroughly  satisfactory  plan,  before  the  contracts  are  made. 
A  general  idea  of  the  arrangement,  or  a  mutual  understanding 
to  copy  pretty  nearly,  the  house  of  Mr.  A.  or  B.,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, is  very  often  as  definite  a  shape  as  the  matter  assumes 
before  the  house  is  commenced.  While  it  is  in  progress,  the 
subject  opening  on  the  mind  of  the  owner,  new  arrangements 
or  alterations  in  the  plan  are  suggested ;  an  additional  room 
here,  a  closet  or  staircase  there,  would  it  is  discovered  add  so 
greatly  to  the  elegance  or  convenience  of  the  house,  that  they 
are  of  course  at  once  introduced.  There  are  not  wanting  me- 
chanics, who  find  perhaps,  that  they  shall  obtain  but  a  mode- 
rate profit  on  their  original  contracts,  and  being  secure  of  the 
whole  W'Ork,  charge  at  a  greatly  increased  price  for  these 
additional  items,  knowing  that  no  other  builder  can  now  be 
brought  into  competition  with  them,  to  reduce  the  rate  by  a 
lower  estimate. 

The  second  source  of  multiplied  expense,  is  the  want  of  pro- 
per specifications,  when  the  building  is  proposed  to  be  estimated 
upon.  The  specifications  of  a  building  to  be  contracted  for  at 
a  certain  price,  are  supposed  to  embrace  every  portion  of  it, 
and  every  item  of  the  expense.  Now,  to  draw  up  a  full  and 
complete  list  of  specifications  for  a  house  of  considerable  size, 
requires  a  very  accurate  knowledge  of  everything  relating  to 
building — a  knowledge  that  neither  the  generality  of  proprie- 
tors, nor  many  artisans  among  us  will  generally  be  found  to 
possess  thoroughly.  Usually,  these  specifications  for  a  country 
house  are  drawn  up  at  the  suggestion  of  the  proprietor,  by  one 
of  the  master  workmen,  and  include  all  the  particulars  that 
12 


178  COTTAGE     RESIDENCES. 

occur  to  him  or  his  employer.  But  in  carrying  out  these  speci- 
fications, it  is  found  that  so  large  a  number  of  items  have  been 
overlooked,  that  the  hill  of  extras,  at  the  close  of  the  work, 
amounts  to  20  or  30  per  cent,  on  the  whole  estimate. 

To  obviate  these  evils  it  is  evident  that  it  is  highly  necessary 
to  have  perfectly  satisfactory  plans,  showing  every  portion 
of  the  house,  necessary  to  a  perfect  understanding  of  all  its 
parts  before  it  is  commenced  or  contracted  for,  in  order  that  no 
material  alteration  may  he  made  while  it  is  in  progress ;  and 
also  to  procure  from  some  experienced  and  competent  architect, 
or  master-builder,  very  complete  and  full  specifications  for  the 
whole  work. 

We  have  in  these  remarks  supposed  the  contract  mode  of 
building,  because  experience  has  led  us  to  believe  that  in  most 
parts  of  the  country  the  work  may  be  done  in  this  way  in  an 
equally  excellent  manner,  and  at  a  much  lower  cost  than  by  the 
days-work  system.  This  is  owing  partly  to  the  fact,  that  a 
great  deal  more  judgment  and  proper  economy  will  always  be 
exercised  in  the  purchase  of  materials,  etc.,  by  a  master-builder 
for  himself,  than  for  the  proprietor  ;  and  partly,  also,  that  in  all 
buildings  there  is  a  great  deal  of  labor  of  secondary  importance, 
which  may  be  performed  at  a  cheap  rate  to  the  master-builder 
by  his  apprentices,  and  which  would  otherwise  be  paid  for  at 
the  journeyman's  rate  in  the  days-work  system.  At  the  same 
time  the  owner,  or  suj)erintendent  of  llie  work,  retains  the 
power  to  inspect  and  reject  all  workmanship  or  materials  not  of 
a  proper  and  specified  quality. 

The  most  economical  mode  of  building  in  the  United  States 
will  therefore  be  found  to  be  that  of  employing  only  the  best 
master  workman,  building  by  contract,  and   undertaking  the 


COTTAGE     RESIDENCF.g.  179 

work  only  wlien  provided  with  complete  plans  and  specifica- 
tions. 

Employment  of  architects  or  professional  men. — The  most 
mortifying  feature,  to  a  person  of  cultivated  taste,  in  architec- 
ture of  our  country-houses  built  within  the  last  ten  years,  is  the 
frequent  violation  of  correct  proportions,  of  unity  of  decora- 
tions, and  of  appropriateness  of  style,  so  frequently  seen,  even 
in  our  finest  residences.  This  arises  sometimes  from  the  indul- 
gence of  the  fancy  or  caprice  of  the  proprietor,  and  sometimes 
from  the  bad  advice  or  worse  plans  of  the  country  carpenter 
or  mason  in  his  employ.  Although  such  buildings  please  their 
owners  at  first,  yet  with  the  dawnings  of  a  more  extensive 
knowledge,  obtained  either  by  the  examination  of  really  admi- 
rable edifices,  or  by  a  greater  familiarity  with  the  subject,  they 
almost  certainly  regret,  when  it  is  too  late,  the  errors  they  have 
so  hastily  committed. 

To  those  who  are  not  thoroughly  informed  and  competent 
themselves  (a  class  yet  very  small  in  all  countries),  we  would 
strongly  recommend  the  employment,  in  any  building  of  impor- 
tance, of  the  best  professional  talent.  They  may  then  feel 
assured  not  only  of  having  a  satisfactory  production,  but  one 
which,  being  correctly  designed,  will  rather  grow,  than  lessen 
in  their  admiration,  as  their  knowledge  or  taste  for  architectu- 
ral beauty  inci'eases. 

When  we  have  really  decided  to  build,  the  difference  be- 
tween a  common  form  and  an  excellent  one  may  at  once  be 
secured  in  favor  of  the  former,  by  applying  to  an  architect  ot 
talent  and  experience.  The  small  addition  (from  2  to  5  per 
cent.)  which  this  will  make  to  the  whole  cost  of  the  building,  is 
certainly  a  consideration  of  trifling  consequence,  when  we  re- 


180  COTTAGE     RE3IDEXCE9. 

fleet  that  in  the  design  lies  the  whole  individuality  of  the 
building,  whether  it  shall  be  full  of  beauty,  grace,  or  pictu- 
resqueness,  or  abound  in  uncouthness,  incongruity,  and  foolish 
conceits — -a  matter  of  the  more  importance  as  it  is  to  continue 
before  our  eyes  and  become  identified  almost  with  ourselves, 
perhaps,  for  a  life-time  !  Many  persons  within  our  knowledge 
have  been  deterred  from  applying  to  a  professional  man  for 
advice  in  building  a  house,  or  laying  out  their  grounds,  from  a 
mistaken  idea  of  the  enormous  charges  to  which  they  would  be 
subjected.  In  the  hope  of  lessening  this  error,  we  have  applied 
to  Mr.  Davis,  of  New  York,  one  of  our  ablest  architects,  for  a 
general  list  of  professional  terms,  an  extract  from  which  we 
shall  here  ofier. 
"  Design  for  a  gate  lodge  or  small  cottage,      -         -         850  00 

do.      for  a  church, 100  00 

do.      for  a  villa  residence  of  moderate  size,        50  to  100  00 
do.      for  a  villa  of  the  first  class  (estimated 
at  815,000),  including  a  visit  to  the 
site, 150  00 

"  The  foregoing  are  exclusive  odcorking  drawings. 

"For  five  per  cent,  on  the  estimate  of  the  whole  cost,  at 
New  York  prices,  the  architect  furnishes  the  design,  including 
the  elevations,  sections,  and  working  drawings,  a  complete  list 
of  specifications,  procures  an  estimate,  and  gives  an  occasional 
superintendence  while  the  building  is  in  progress." 

We  do  not  give  this  as  the  uniform  scale  of  prices  for  junfes- 
sional  services  of  this  kind,  as  no  fixed  standard  is  agreed  upon 
in  this  country,  but  we  believe  the  average  charges  will  be 
found  to  vary  very  little  from  those  here  stated. 


